SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 


ON  THE  BORDERS: 


A  WINTER  CAMPAIGN  ON  THE  PLAINS. 


BY 

DE  B.  RANDOLPH  KEIM. 


GEORGE    ROUTLEDGE    AND    SONS, 

LONDON:    BROADWAY,    LUDGATE    HILL, 

NEW  YORK;  9  LAFAYETTE  PLACE. 

-X 


COPYRIGHT. 

DAVID  MCKAY, 

18*5. 


PREFACE. 


IVILIZATION  extending  in  opposite  directions,  West 
ward  across  the  great  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
Eastward  traversing  the  auriferous  regions  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  presents  two  extensive  fields  of 
American  Industry,  approximating  each  other,  and 
demanding  a  more  convenient  and  rapid  intercourse.  Railways 
and  Telegraphs  have  boldly  penetrated  the  solitude  of  the 
Plains,  and  the  wild  Passes  of  the  Mountains  reverberate  to 
the  rumble  of  moving  trains.  The  two  oceans  are  already 
linked  together  by  an  Iron  Highway.  The  savage,  alarmed  at 
this  new  encroachment,  is  ready  at  any  moment  for  a  despe 
rate,  probably  a  final  effort  to  drive  out  the  invaders  of  his 
hunting-grounds.  Fearful  of  his  future  he  opposes  such  en 
croachments,  for  in  them  he  sees  no  benefit  to  the  remnant 
of  his  race,  who  have  taken  refuge  on  the  plains  and  in  the 
mountains. 

The  struggle  has  come,  to  solve,  for  all  time,  the  question 
whether  the  white  or  the  red  man  shall  prevail  in  the  vast 
intermediate  region  between  Eastern  and  Western  civiliza 
tion.  The  exigencies  of  modern  civilization  point  to  the  inevi 
table  doom  of  the  aboriginal  people  of  the  United  States.  Their 
savage  natures,  incapable  of  restraint,  render  them  by  instinct 
foes  to  progress  and  the  cause  of  humanity.  As  with  the 
buffalo  the  approach  of  civilization  is  to  them  the  knell  of  des 
truction.  As  the  murderous  bullet  of  the  white  hunter  ruth 
lessly  slaughters  the  buffalo,  so  the  vices  of  civilization  carry 
off  those  of  the  red  men  who  have  outlived  their  kindred. 

The  following  chapters  contain  a  narrative  of  more  than  six 
months  spent  on  the  Southern  Plains,  observing  the  operations 

(3) 


4  PREFACE. 

of  the  army  personally  directed  by  Major,  now  Lieutenant 
General  Sheridan  against  the  refractory  savage  on  the  Repub 
lican,  the  Arkansas  and  the  Washita. 

The  curiosity  of  friends,  as  well  as  a  seeming  general  desire 
to  know  something  more  of  the  country  constituting  the  unex 
plored  hunting-grounds  of  the  Comanche,  the  Kiowa,  the  mer 
ciless  Cheyenne,  and  Arrapahoe,  and  these  predatory  people 
themselves,  are  the  considerations  that  have  induced  me  to 
give  my  somewhat  rough  and  novel  experience  in  this  form. 

The  campaign  was  an  exceptional  one.  There  was  much  in 
it  that  had  never  characterized  any  previous  undertaking  against 
the  savages.  The  season  of  the  year  was  against  all  precedent 
for  active  hostilities.  Most  of  the  country  was  entirely  un 
known.  These  people,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  had  come  in  con 
tact  with  but  a  few  semi-savage  traders,  or  with  the  white  set 
tler,  during  their  murderous  depredations  upon  his  cabins. 
The  object  was  to  show  to  the  savages  the  ability  of  the  "  white 
man's  soldiers"  to  brave  the  storms  of  winter,  and  to  surmount 
this  barrier,  which  had  in  former  years  protected  them.  In  my 
narrative  I  have  endeavored  to  combine  useful  information  with 
entertaining  reading.  In  this  view  I  have  given  much  of  the 
soldier's  life  on  the  plains. 

Hoping,  therefore,  that  this  volume  will  possess  some  feature 
that  will  recommend  it,  and  in  a  measure  supply  the  wants  of 
a  large  number  of  persons  who  appear  to  have  suddenly  turned 
their  attention  to  the  Indian  and  the  country  he  inhabits,  the 
writer  submits  these  pages. 

I  add  my  acknowledgments  of  the  courtesy  of  F.  0.  Newhall, 
Esq.,  for  the  use  of  the  admirable  portrait  of  General  Sheridan, 
found  in  the  beginning  of  this  volume. 

KEIM. 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  1870. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

On  the  Sunset  side  of  the  Missouri— Arrival  at  Leavenworth  City — 
Still  Westward  -  -  -  9 

CHAPTER  II. 

Beyond  the  Pale  of  Civilization— The  Plains— Buffaloes — A  Fusil- 
ade— Hays  City  -  -  -  -  -  16 

CHAPTER  III. 
Fort  Hays— Its  Garrison — Sheridan— The  Indians      -  -22 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Nomadic  Tribes  of  the  Plains— Events  which  Preceded  the  Out 
break  of  1868  -  -  -  27 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Massacres  on  the  Saline  and  the  Solomon— War  Inaugurated — 
Preparations  for  the  Contest— Sheridan  attempts  peaceably  to 
Check  the  Tribes  in  the  South  -  -  33 

CHAPTER  VI. 

A  Journey  to  the  "  End  of  the  Track  "—Immense  Herds  of  Buffa 
loes— An  Adventure— Arrival  at  Sheridan  -  -  37 

CHAPTER  VII. 

A  Night  in  a  Frontier  Town— Popular  Diversions  and  Primitive  Jus 
tice  -  ' 42 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Off  for  Fort  Wallace— Parting  Civilities— Interesting  Reminiscences — 
"What's  the  News?"  '  -  ....  46 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Forsyth's  Battle  of  the  Arrickaree  Fork  -  -  -    50 

CHAPTER  X. 

Sheridan  Visits  Fort  Wallace— A  "  Norther"— Return  to  Fort  Hays— 
"  Underground  Monitors  "—A  Ride  on  a  Cow  (Buffalo)  Catcher — 
Volunteers  called  for — Indian  Guides  -  58 

CHAPTER  XL 
An  Old-fashioned  Buffalo  Hunt— The  Habits  of  the  Bison  or  Buffalo  -    65 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Buffalo  Herd— Its  Organization-A  Brute  Army— The  Antelope- 
Popular  Buffalo  Hunts  -  -  -  70 

CHAPTER  XIIL 
Carr's  Gallop  along  the  Republican — Arrival  of  Osage  Warriors      -    77 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

A  War  Dance— Ready  to  Take  the  Field  -    82 

v 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Departure  for  the  Seat  of  War  in  the  South — Mule  Driving  as  an 
Art — Arrival  at  Fort  Dodge — Camp  South  of  the  Arkansas — Bluff 
Creek— Letters  for  Home  -  -  88 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Camp  on  the  Cimmaron — Bad  Water — Hunting  Parties — Sunset  on 
the  Plains— A  Night  Alarm— Notes  of  War  on  the  Canadian  -  94 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  Snow  Storm— Custer  takes  the  "  War-path  "—Sheridan's  Policy 
in  a  Nut-shell — Building  a  Fort — The  Volunteers  Snowed-up — Re 
lief  Sent — A  Thanksgiving  Dinner  -  -  -  -  -  101 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
The  Battle  of  the  Washita         -  -  -  -  -  -110 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Return  of  the  Troopers  from  Battle — A  Scalp  Dance — Safe  Arrival 
of  the  Volunteers — A  General  Expedition  -  .-  -121 

CHAPTER  XX. 

A  Fresh  Start— The  "  Outfit  "—Indian  Philosophy— The  Gypsum 
Country — Camp  on  the  Canadian — The  Washita — California  Joe  -  128 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

A  Visit  to  the  Field  of  the  Battle  of  the  Washita— Recovery  of  the 
Bodies  of  Elliott  and  his  men — Fiendish  Mutilation — The  Bodies  of 
a  Woman  and  Child  Found  -  -  141 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Again  on  the  March — A  Snow  Storm— The  Flight  of  the  Savages — 
Wild  Turkeys— Satanta  and  Lone  Wolf  receive  Hospitalities  -  152 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Fort  Cobb — Arrogance  of  the  Savages — The  Peneteghtka  Coman- 
ches — Kiowa  Duplicity— Two  Chiefs  in  Trouble — Some  of  the 
Fugitive  Bands  come  in — Condition  of  the  Troops— Our  Camp  -  161 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A  Visit  to  a  Comanche  Village— The  Chiefs  Lodge— Christmas  Day 
in  Camp —The  Indians  drawing  Rations  -  -167 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Early  Explorations  on  the  Plains — The  Spaniards— The  French — The 
Americans — The  Occupants  of  the  Country— The  Comanches  -  175 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Tribal  Traditions,  Continued— The  Kiowa — The  Cheyenne  and  Arra- 
pahoe— The  Dog  Soldiers— The  Apaches  (Lipans) — Intercourse  of 
the  Five  Tribes  with  each  other  -  ...  183 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Rivalry  between  the  Mountain  and  Plains  Tribes — Hostility  against 
the  Reservation  Indians— The  Indian  Pony — Physique  of  the  Sav 
age — Physiognomy— The  Sexes — Dress— Ornaments — Paint— Sub 
sistence — Tribal  Organization — Justice  -  -  -  191 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XiVJUL 

The  Indian  Village— On  the  Move— A  Stampede— The  Wigwam- 
Superstitions— Cooking— Food— Domestic  Utensils  -  -  201 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Social  Affairs — Marriage — Morals— Parental  Affection— Children — 
Names— The  Council— War— Tactics— Camping— Signalling— The 
War  Pony  -  -  -  -  -  210 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

A  War  Party— Strategy— Prisoners— Torture— Mutilation  of  Bodies- 
Victory — The  Return — Rejoicing — Intellectual  Development  of 
the  Savage — Language — Oratory — Sign  Language  -  218 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Indian  Hieroglyphics  —  Traditions— Fables— Religion— Death— Bu 
rial— Mourning— Festivities— Music— Amusements— Racing— Tra 
ding — Implements  -  -  223 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
An  Exploring  Expedition  to  the  Witchita  Mountains  -  231 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
Legends  of  Medicine  Bluff        -  -  238 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

The  Proposed  Site  of  a  New  Post— Ruins  of  an  Indian  Village- 
Caught  in  a  Storm— A  Race  for  Life  -  i  -  245 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

News  from  the  Bascom  Column— Distribution  of  Annuity  Goods — 
Moving  Camp— Tidings  from  Carr— Ascent  of  Mount  Scott — An 
unpleasant  Predicament  -  -  -  '-  ~^  -252 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Rambles  among  the  Witchitas— A  Hunt  by  Moonlight — Mr.  Carr— A 
Honey  Tree— Researches  of  the  Volunteers — A  Rattlesnake  Den — 
A  Prolific  Arrapahoe  -  -  *  -  263 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Closing  Events — The  Tribes  Coerced  into  Obedience — A  Deputa 
tion — An  Indian  Council — An  Elk  Hunt — An  Indian  Love  Affair  -  272 

CHAPTER  XXXVIH. 
The  Administration  of  Indian  Affairs  -----  282 

CHAPTER"  xxxix. 

The  Administration  of  Indian  Affairs,  Continued       -          -          -291 

CHAPTER  XL. 
Opening  of  Spring— Off  for  Camp  Supply       -          -          •          -298 

CHAPTER  XLI. 
Homeward  Bound— An  Agreeable  Surprise— Civilization  Once  More  305 


A  LETTER  FROM  LIEUTENANT  GENERAL  SHERIDAN. 

The  following  letter  was  received  from  Lieutenant  General 
Sheridan  as  this  volume  was  about  going  to  press.  The  author 
is  induced  to  publish  it,  in  this  connection,  in  view  of  its  accord 
with  his  own  views  expressed  on  the  Indian  policy, 

HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE 

MISSOURI,  CHICAGO,  ILLS,,  April  28,  1870. 
Mr.  De  B.  Randolph  Keim. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  carefully  read  the  proof-sheets  sent  me 
of  your  forthcoming  book,  (Sheridan's  Troopers  on  the  Bor 
ders,)  and  think  well  of  it. 

1  I  may  say  in  reference  to  the  management  of  Indians,  the 
reservation  system  is  the  only  one  offering  any  prospects  of 
success,  but  all  experience  has  shown  that  the  wild  Indian  will 
not  adopt  it  until  he  is  forced  to  do  so.  All  the  tribes  on  the 
Northern  Pacific  coast  had  to  be  subdued  and  forced  on  the 
reservations,  which  was  accomplished  between  the  years  1855 
1860,  Then  peace  ensued.  Latterly  the  same  policy  has  been 
pursued  in  regard  to  the  Comanches,  Kiowas,  Cheyennes,  and 
Arrapahoes. 

After  the  wild  Indians  are  put  upon  the  reservations  a  strong 
military  force  will  have  to  be  kept  there  to  protect  the  agents 
and  others  required  in  the  work  of  civilization,  and  also  for  the 
subordination  of  the  Indians,  and  their  protection  against  the 
encroachments  of  the  white  settlers,  who  otherwise  would  take 
possession  of  their  lands. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

P.  H.  SHERIDAN, 

Lieutenant  General. 


VIII 


3  N    T  n  %    B  Q  l  D  3  B B.  }  ° ,;  \  , J,  ',  .'/. 


SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 


ON  TUB 


BORDERS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ON  THB  SUNSET  SIDE  OP  THE  MISSOURI — ARRIVAL  AT  LEAVENW'  RTH 
STILL  WESTWARD. 

*ESS  than  a  year  and  half  ago,  one  midnight,  the  writer 
of  these  pages  entered  the  distant  western  town  of 
Leavenworth  in  the  state  of  Kansas.  Three  sooty 
lanterns  cast  a  dubious  light  upon  a  dozen  passengers 
groping  their  way  amongst  threshing  machines,  barrels 
and  boxes,  towards  a  rickety  and  battered  coach.  Said  coach 
had  the  appearance  of  having  migrated,  by  slow  stages,  all  the 
way  from  the  Atlantic  sea-board,  keeping  pace  with  the  ad 
vance  tide  of  civilization,  and  shunning  railroads  as  relentless 
intruders.  The  coach  had,  evidently,  last  seen  paint  east  of  the 
Alleghany  mountains,  and  in  its  western  march  of  progress  had 
become  quite  bare  of  those  embellishments  which,  doubtless, 
formerly  attracted  so  much  attention  and  observation  among 
the  children.  In  the  dim  flicker  of  lanterns  it  was  a  spectre 
of  a  coach.  About  an  inch  of  candle,  stuck  to  the  floor,  in 
the  front  end,  was  suggestive  of  the  necessity  of  haste,  or  the 
inevitable  and  speedy  succession  of  darkness.  The  interior 
cushions  and  fittings  had  the  appearance  of  the  coach  being 
converted,  nightly,  into  a  sleeping  apartment.  In  this  ma 
chine,  the  writer  and  his  fellow-travelers  set  out  for  the  hotel 


Id  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  on  the  top  of  the  bluff.  A 
crack  of  the  whip,  and  a  few  words  of  encouragement  from  the 
driver,  fired  the  quadrupeds  in  front  with  astounding  vivacity. 
They  bounded  off,  over  several  rail-road  tracks,  into  several 
ruts,  altogether  with  such  unexpected  velocity,  that  the  hulk 
of  the  coach  groaned  and  labored,  pitched  and  rolled,  like  a 
ship  at  sea,  while  the  occupants,  baggage  and  all,  were  jostled 
about  in  the  most  unsatisfactory  manner. 

Arriving  at  the  hotel  the  nightly  nuisances,  at  all  hotels,  were 
still  about  gazing  at  each  individual  as  he  blinked  out  of  the  dark 
ness,  into  the  office.  Knowingly  they  watched  each  stranger  put 
his  name  upon  the  register,  and  immediately  after  rushed  up  to 
farther  gratify  their  sense  of  importance  and  provincial  curiosity. 
The  writer  having  been  provided  with  apartments,  impressed 
into  his  service  a  yawning,  half-a-sleep  negro,  who  just  at  this 
timely  moment  made  his  appearance  through  a  window  looking 
into  the  coat-room.  Led  off  by  this  same  sable  youth,  he  soon 
found  himself  comfortably,  (that  is  for  nearly  fifteen  hundred 
miles  west  of  Atlantic  tide  water,)  provided  for  the  recuperation 
of  his  physical  forces. 

Wonderful  indeed  it  was  to  reflect  upon  the  sudden  transi 
tion  and  great  lesson  of  the  age.  In  the  brief  space  of  four 
days,  traversing  six  States  of  the  Union,  and  a  distance  of 
twelve  hundred  and  thirty-five  miles,  I  now  stood  upon  the 
west  bank  of  the  Missouri.  Less  than  twenty-five  years  ago 
to  accomplish  this  same  distance  would  have  been  the  toil  of 
months.  A  century  ago  civilization  had  not  yet  ventured  away 
from  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  Such  has  been  the  marvelous  pro 
gress  of  American  Industry  and  Enterprise.  Opulent  cities  and 
thriving  towns  and  villages,  linked  together  by  a  net-work  of 
iron  highways  and  electric  wires,  now  cover  all  the  vast  region 
sweeping  away  from  the  Alleghanies  to  the  confines  of  the  great 
plains  in  the  very  heart  of  the  continent. 

Thus  remote  from  the  older  seats  of  civilization  and  settle 
ment  is  the  town  or  city,  I  believe  is  the  term,  intended  to  dig 
nify  the  place,  of  Leavenworth.  It  is  a  fine,  thrifty  community. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  11 

with  a  population  of  about  fifteen  thousand  souls.  It  is  beauti 
fully  located  on  a  series  of  bluffs,  overlooking  the  muddy  waters 
of  the  Missouri.  It  possesses  some  very  fine  buildings.  The 
Public  School  would  compete  with  any  structure  of  the  kind  in 
a  city  ten  times  the  size.  The  new  Catholic  church  bears  the 
same  relation  to  Leavenworth  notions  of  the  wonderful,  as  the 
great  organ  does  to  the  extreme  ideas  of  Boston.  The  building 
is  really  an  ornament  and  an  enterprise  of  just  pride.  Leav 
enworth  society,  properly  speaking,  is  good,  and  is  principally 
composed  of  the  old  settlers,  persons  of  moderate  means  gene 
rally,  but  hospitable.  The  transient  circles  are  composed  of 
interlopers,  government  contractors,  Indian  agents,  and  Indian 
feeders.  The  place  is  a  famous  winter  resort  for  Indian  men, 
and  is  a  sort  of  general  base  of  operations  for  anything  that 
turns  up  in  which  the  government  is  a  principal  party. 

Several  miles  out  of  town,  on  a  bluff  overlooking  the  Mia- 
souri,  is  situated  Fort  Leavenworth.  This  is  one  of  the  early 
posts  built  when  civilization  with  feeble  steps,  began  its  march 
across  the  continent.  Fort  Leavenworth  is  now  properly  a  sta 
tion  for  troops  and  depot  for  the  supply  of  the  posts  on  the 
upper  Missouri  and  on  the  Plains.  It  is  therefore  easy  to  ac 
count  for  the  class  of  people,  generally  "sharpers"  who  make 
their  "stopping  place"  at  Leavenworth  or  as  it  is  spme  time 
symbolically  represented  "11  worth."  The  fort  is  made  up  of 
a  collection  of  barracks,  officers  quarters,  an  arsenal,  stables,  hay 
stacks  and  board  piles.  The  buildings  are  well  constructed 
and  substantial.  To  prevent  encroachment  the  government  re 
tained  a  large  plot  of  ground  probably  over  a  thousand  acres, 
known  as  the  "Reservation."  As  the  country  around  has  be 
come  well  settled,  for  several  years  past  a  number  of  patriots 
and  public  economists  have  been  at  work  with  Congress  try 
ing  to  effect  the  passage  of  a  bill  authorizing  the  sale  of  the 
premises. 

It  will  prove  a  large  profit  to  some  one  or  set  of  worthies,  who 
always  display  so  intense  an  interest  to  relieve  the  government 
of  a  share  of  its  responsibilities. 


12  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

The  day  after  my  arrival  at  Leavenworth  I  rode  to  the  Fort 
to  make  inquiries  about  the  proper  objective  point,  in  view  of 
the  particular  part  I  proposed  to  play  in  the  campaign,  as  well 
as  to  learn  the  whereabouts  of  the  Commanding  General.  All 
information  I  readily  obtained  from  the  Assistant  Adjutant  Gen 
eral  of  the  Department,  General  McKeever,  who  had  been  left 
to  take  charge  of  the  office  work  at  head-quarters,  while  the  gen 
eral  himself  was  in  the  field.  Owing  to  the  hostilities  on  the 
plains,  the  troops  had  been  almost  entirely  withdrawn  from  Fort 
Leavenworth,  leaving  but  a  detachment  of  the  Fourth  Artillery 
as  a  garrison.  In  other  respects  the  place  was  quite  lively. 
Generals  Card  and  Morgan,  the  former  Chief  Quartermaster, 
and  the  latter  chief  Commissary  of  the  Department,  were  up  to 
their  ears  in  business,  making  contracts  for  forage  and  other 
supplies  and  organizing  the  necessary  transportation. 

From  what  I  learned,  Leavenworth  was  no  point  to  serve  my 
ends,  so  the  next  day  I  took  the  train  on  the  Kansas  Pacific 
Railway  on  my  route  further  west.  The  same  night  I  was 
delayed  at  the  town  of  Lawrence,  a  neat  flourishing  place,  forty 
miles  from  Leavenworth,  and  on  the  trunk  road  connecting  with 
the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  at  Kansas  City. 

This  town  and  Leavenworth  are  rivals  for  fame  and  import 
ance.  Leavenworth  has  the  advantage  of  the  proximity  of  a 
military  post,  Lawrence  can  claim  the  work  shops  of  the  Kan 
sas  Pacific  railway.  If  the  public  economists,  already  spoken 
of,  succeed  in  selling  the  government  reservation,  Leavenworth 
"  stock"  is  bound  to  decline.  Lawrence  has  a  little  chapter  of 
history,  also,  to  which  the  people  revert  with  a  sort  of  mixture 
of  sadness  and  pride.  The  town  and  its  people  were  well  nigh 
destroyed  by  the  notorious  guerrilla  Quantrell,  and  was  again 
reduced  to  a  dilapidated  condition  by  another  raiding  party 
from  Missouri.  Lawrence  is  a  smaller  town  than  Leavenworth 
and  with  fewer  fine  buildings. 

The  next  morning  at  ten  o'clock  I  resumed  the  journey  west 
ward  by  rail.  The  train  was  composed  of  a  number  of  stock 
cars,  laden  with  horses  destined  to  the  various  posts  to  furnish 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  13 

a  remount  for  the  dismounted  men  of  the  cavalry  regiments,  a 
few  freight  cars  carrying  quarter-masters  and  commissary  stores 
and  two  passenger  cars. 

As  time  wore  on  and  the  train  sped  over  its  iron  path,  the 
evidence  of  civilization  became  more  rare.  The  country  began 
to  present  that  monotonous  configuration  incident  to  the  plains 
generally.  During  the  day  we  passed  Fort  Riley,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Republican  river.  This  fort  is  one  of  the  old  time 
military  establishments  of  the  plains.  Built  on  a  high  ridge  it 
commands  a  vast  stretch  of  vision.  In  early  days,  though  not 
many  years  ago,  this  fort  was  the  centre  of  military  operations 
on  the  plains.  It  was  then  far  beyond  the  very  utmost  limits 
of  civilization,  and  was  only  reached  by  the  slow  means  of 
wagon  transportation.  It  was  here  for  a  long  time  the  exten 
sive  trains  loading  for  New  Mexico  fitted  out.  The  glory  of 
the  old  post  has  departed.  Frontier  settlements  have  sprung 
up  around  it  in  the  fertile  vallies  of  the  Kaw  and  the  Republi 
can.  The  wolfs  mournful  howl  no  longer  is  heard.  The 
whistle  of  the  locomotive  breaks  upon  the  air  suggestive  of  the 
miraculous  transformation.  There  was  a  time  when  the  trooper 
arrayed  for  battle  might  have  been  seen  leaving  the  protecting 
walls  of  Riley  to  scour  the  surrounding  country  in  pursuit  of  a 
savage  foe,  or  returning  to  rest  from  the  fatigues  of  his  task, 
profitless  in  honors  or  promotion.  To-day  the  decrepit  and 
exhausted  cavalry  horse  here  finds  rest  and  abundance.  A 
squad  of  infantry  soldiers  to  watch  the  premises  constitutes  the 
garrison. 

Further  west  we  passed  a  hotel,  a  few  shanties  and  a  number 
of  cars  upon  a  side  track.  The  country  for  some  distance  was 
covered  with  herds  of  cattle,  each  with  its  herders,  like  so  many 
mounted  maniacs  darting  about,  yelling  furiously, and  cutting 
right  and  left  with  their  enormous  whips.  This  point  was 
recorded  upon  the  "  schedule  "  under  the  sentimental  name  of 
Abeline,  and  I  learned  was  the  great  rendezvous  and  shipping 
post  for  Texas  cattle.  Annually  immense  droves  are  brought 
here  across  the  plains,  from  a  distance  of  not  less  than  five  hun- 


14  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

dred  miles  and  shipped  to  the  eastern  markets — St.  Louis, 
Chicago,  and  the  great  cities  of  the  Atlantic. 

Towards  evening  an  odd  buffalo  or  a  small  herd  of  antelopes 
appeared  in  the  distance,  but  not  in  sufficient  proximity  to  get 
even  a  good  sight. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  train  reached  Fort  Harker.  Here  we 
were  delayed  some  minutes  awaiting  the  special  train  of  the 
commanding  general  from  the  west.  We  then  pushed  on  to 
Ellsworth,  three  miles  further. 

Owing  to  hostilities  and  the  presence  of  Indian  war  parties 
along  the  line  of  road  beyond,  the  running  of  trains  except  by 
daylight  had  been  abandoned.  We  were  therefore  booked  for 
the  night.  Leaving  the  train  and  walking  a  few  hundred  feet 
across  an  open  space  covered  with  boxes,  broken  barrels,  tin 
cans,  and  every  other  variety  of  rubbish,  we  reached  the  "  first 
class  "  hotel,  known  as  the  Anderson  House.  We  were  received 
at  the  door  by  a  wizen-faced,  spare  individual,  who  was  after 
wards  found  to  be  the  proprietor.  The  hotel  was  a  frame  struc 
ture  about  forty  feet  front  and  two  stories  in  height.  The 
accommodations  were  not  of  the  most  commodious  character, 
though  this  inconvenience  was  obviated  by  the  hospitality,  for 
a  pecuniary  consideration,  of  the  citizens  of  the  place.  Those 
who  could  not  be  accommodated  at  the  hotel,  were  taken  in  tow 
by  a  seedy  African  and  escorted  to  some  neighboring  house  or 
tent  to  be  provided  for. 

Being  the  first  to  reach  the  hotel  I  had  the  first  chance  of 
accommodation,  and  was  accordingly  assigned  to  room  No.  1. 
The  other  passengers  were  provided  for  to  the  extent  of  five 
persons  in  three  rooms.  The  rest  of  the  passengers,  now 
reduced  to  twenty,  either  were  billeted  on  the  citizens  or  slept 
in  the  cars. 

After  a  supper  on  buffalo  steak,  antelope  ham,  soggy  bread, 
and  a  cup  of  warm  water,  flavored  with  a  grain  of  coffee  or  a 
leaf  of  tea,  the  passengers  gathered  in  the  hotel  office,  a  small 
room  eight  by  ten  and  furnished  with  a  counter  and  several 
dilapidated  chairs.  The  proprietor  presided.  Seating  himself 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  15 

on  a  three-legged  chair  and  cocking  his  feet  on  the  stove  he 
entertained  himself  spinning  yarns  laudatory  of  his  own  promi 
nent  career,  throwing  in  occasionally  a  bit  of  history  connected 
with  the  laying  out  and  subsequent  growth  of  the  town  of  Ells 
worth.  He  had  not  only  purchased  the  site  of  the  town  and 
sold  much  of  it  out  in  small  lots,  thereby  greatly  expanding  his 
financial  condition,  but  was  also  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  his 
own  idea,  the  most  important  personage  on  the  plains.  Ac 
cording  to  his  accounts,  when  the  railroad  was  being  constructed 
up  to  that  point,  some  preliminary  buildings  having  been  thrown 
together  in  anticipation  of  that  event,  the  population  consisted 
of  rather  a  miscellaneous  assortment  of  human  beings.  Nor 
was  the  order  of  the  place  any  better.  Shooting  at  each  other 
upon  trivial  grounds  was  a  common  pastime,  and  to  kill  on  an 
average  a  man  a  night  was  an  expected  and  ordinary  occurrence. 
Drinking  shops  and  gambling  dens  were  the  only  profitable 
places  of  public  amusement.  Since  the  railroad  had  been 
pushed  further  west,  the  town  had  become  quite  orderly  and 
the  population  had  at  the  same  time  suffered  a  material  diminu 
tion.  During  the  night  our  attention  was  several  times  attracted 
outside  by  violent  yells,  accompanied  with  salvos  of  uproarious 
oaths  and  the  usual  demonstrations  of  the  scientific  use  of  the 
fist,  but  as  no  one  was  killed  the  reputation  of  the  place  was 
not  effected,  and  the  parties  were  allowed  plenty  of  room  to 
finish  it  out  in  true  frontier  style. 

A  notification  that  the  train  would  depart  at  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  put  a  period  to  the  edifying  talk  of  the  proprietor, 
as  he  found  his  last  listeners  were  about  to  try  the  experiment 
of  slumbering  upon  all  his  terrible  stories.  One  rough  old  cus 
tomer  delivered  his  valedictory  by  informing  the  proprietor, 
"  that  it  would  be  just  as  much  as  his  life  was  worth  to  let  him 
miss  the  train." 


16  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  II. 


BEYOND  THE   PALE  OF  CIVILIZATION— THE  PLAINS— BUFFALOES— A  FDSILADE— 
HAYS   CITY. 

Y  three  o'clock  the  next  morning  the  passengers  were 
rallied  at  the  hotel,  by  two  colored  boys  who  patrolled 
the  town  for  that  purpose.  All  bills  had  been  settled  in 
"advance."  The  landlord  a  few  moments  before  the  start 
ing  of  the  train,  informed  us  that  "the  cooks  had  overslept 
themselves,  we  would  have  to  excuse  them  but  it  would  be  im 
possible  to  get  breakfast  before  the  train  left;"  with  a  parting 
benediction  upon  the  landlord's  head  most  of  the  passengers 
retired  to  an  adjacent  "rum  mill"  and  "stowed  away"  a  "slug" 
or  two  of  "mountain  dew"  to  keep  up  their  spirits.  Being  thus 
provided  they  got  on  the  train,  a  few  minutes  ahead  of  time. 
The  locomotive  whistled  "up  breaks"  and  away  we  started 
westward. 

We  were  now  fairly  upon  the  vast  expanse  of  country  known 
as  the  Plains.  The  last  traces  of  civilization  had  disappeared, 
unless  we  except  the  Iron  road  over  which  we  were  running,  at 
the  rate  of  twenty  miles  an  hour,  instead  of  by  the  earlier  emi 
grant  train,  at  the  same  rate  per  day  This  made  the  wildness 
and  solitude  of  the  surroundings  even  more  effective.  Far  in 
advance  the  road  could  be  traced  winding  along  over  the  rolling 
waste,  rarely  a  straight  line  for  any  considerable  distance,  but 
taking  advantage  of  natural  depressions,  avoiding  the  higher 
swells,  thus  saving  time,  labor,  and  capital.  Nowhere  were  to 
be  seen  grateful  visions  of  farm  houses,  gardens,  fields  of  waving 
grain,  green  pastures,  and  cattle  or  sheep.  The  country  was 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  17 

one  vast  sweepv  extending  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  Even 
that  luxuriant  natural  growth,  known  popularly  as  the  "Prairie 
Grass"  which  was  found  further  east,  had  given  place  to  a  new 
variety.  An  occasional  wood-pile  or  water-tank,  watched  by 
two  or  three  men  and  a  squad  of  soldiers  constituted  the  railway 
s'atLms.  A  dilapidated  freight  car  answered  the  double  purpose 
of  sleeping  quarters  and  defence  for  the  railway  employees,  while 
the  soldiers  occupied  a  few  tents  outside. 

The  reader  has  frequently  heard  of  the  great  American  Plains 
yet  very  few  have  ever  seen  them  and  consequently  the  idea  the 
term  conveys  is  any  thing  but  a  correct  conception  of  their  nat 
ural  character  or  their  vast  extent.  Four  hundred  and  twenty 
two  miles  west  of  the  Mississipi,at  St.  Louis,  or  the  ninety  sev 
enth  meridian,  these  Plains  properly  begin.  For  a  distance  of 
nearly  five  hundred  miles  westward,  or  to  the  one  hundred  and 
fifth  meridian,  this  vast  and  monotonous  region  stretches  away 
to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  extends  from  the  Red 
River  in  the  south,  to  the  Nebraska  or  Platte  in  the  north,  a  dis 
tance  of  fully  five  hundred  miles,  or  from  latitude  thirty-four  to 
forty  one  degrees.  This  immense  region  embraces  the  western 
portion  of  the  Indian  Territory,  western  Kansas,  southern  Ne 
braska,  eastern  Colorado,  eastern  New  Mexico  and  north-western 
Texas.  With  the  exception  of  the  beautiful  and  fertile  strip  of 
country  between  the  Red  and  t'.ie  Washita  rivers  and  a  few  is 
olated  and  limited  vallies,  the  country  presents  no  features  of 
configuration  to  interest  the  eye  and  no  qualities  of  soil  to  invite 
the  settler.  Wave  after  wave  rolls  in  endless  sameness,  an  ocean 
of  earth,  terminating  where  its  billows  strike  the  immense  moun 
tain  walls  on  the  west.  Tiie  soil  generally  is  composed  of  an  ex 
tremely  sandy  loam,  with  extensive  patches  of  gravel,  red  clay 
and  shale.  Here  and  there  are  met  surface  indications  of  large 
beds  of  gypsum,  and  strata  of  sandstone  and  limestone. 

Five  large  streams  having  their  fountains  within  or  near  the 
spurs  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  flow  the  entire  width  of  the  Plains, 
from  west  to  east.  These  are  the  Republican,  the  Arkansas,  the 
Cimmaron,  the  Canadian  and  the  Red,  There  are  four  lesser 


18  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

streams,  the  Solomon,  the  Smokey  Hill,  the  north  Fork  of  the 
Canadian  and  the  Washita.  Besides  these,  innumerable  tribu 
taries  answering  more  the  purposes  of  an  extensive  system  of 
drainage  during  the  rainy  season,  than  permanently  flowing  cur 
rents,  are  to  be  found  every  where. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  all  the  plains  streams,  is  the  effect  of  the 
seasons  upon  their  size.  During  the  summer  the  largest  rivers 
dwindle  into  utter  insignificance  and  the  fact  that  they  were  ever 
anything  more,  is  only  observable  by  their  dry  sandy  bed  cov 
ered  when  the  streams  are  swelled  by  the  melting  snows  and 
spring  rains.  When  the  larger  streams  are  effected  by  the  ex 
cessive  lack  of  rain,  it  is  easy  to  imagine  that  the  tributaries 
and  smaller  water  courses  are  lost  entirely.  It  frequently  hap 
pens  that  the  water  loses  itself  in  the  sand  and  at  intervals  of  a 
few  miles  will  rise  again  to  the  surface,  forming  a  chain  of  ponds 
with  no  apparent  communication  with  each  other.  In  some  of 
the  streams  the  water  is  exceedingly  impregnated  with  alkaline 
substances  and  is  very  unpalatable,  as  well  as  injurious  to  either 
man  or  beast.  This  is  particularly  the  case  with  the  Cimmaron 
region. 

Timber  is  the  rare  exception,  rather  than  the  common  repre 
sentative  of  the  vegetable  kingdom  of  the  plains.  The  traveler 
pursues  his  way  for  mile  after  mile,  without  seeing  a  single  tree, 
nor  even  a  shrub.  Where  trees  are  found  at  all,  is  upon  the 
banks  of  some  of  the  larger  streams  and  then  a  very  sparse 
growth.  The  Indian  when  it  is  possible  establishes  the  seat  of 
his  families  where  wood  and  brush  are  to  be  had,  while  his 
hunting-parties  build  their  fires  of  buffalo  chips.  The  emigrant 
trails  have  generaly  been  laid  out  with  a  view  to  the  streams 
presenting  the  advantages  of  timber  and  water. 

The  only  vegetation  which  thrives,  is  a  tenacious,  diminutive, 
but  very  nutritious  growth  called  the  "buffalo  grass"  and  by 
some  set  down  as  a  variety  of  mosquito.  With  this  grass  the 
entire  country  is  covered,  until  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
mountains  where  the  sage  brush  predominates. 

The  traveler  in  passing  over  this  country  naturally  aeks  him- 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  19 

self  the  question,  will  this  immense  domain  forever  remain  a 
barren  waste  ?  Extreme  heats  and  sand  storms  in  summer  and 
terrific  visitations  of  winds,  snow  and  rain  in  winter  are  certain 
ly  not  climatic  considerations  the  most  inviting.  The  hot  winds 
of  summer,  have  repeatedly  demonstrated  the  precarious  tenure 
of  any  vegetable  growth,  except  the  buffalo  grass.  This  grass 
driving  its  roots  far  down  into  the  earth,  seems  in  this  manner 
to  derive  ample  moisture  to  keep  up  the  requisite  supply.  To 
look  at  the  buffalo  grass  not  over  an  inch  in  height  and  really 
resembling  moss  rather  than  what  its  name  indicates,  persons 
unfamiliar  with  its  nutritious  qualities  would  at  once  remark  the 
country  as  worthless  as  a  desert,  though  experienced  frontiers 
men  declare  that  the  time  is  not  far  off  when  stock  grazing  on 
these  very  plains  will  be  a  profitable  and  extensive  employment 
and  lands  now  considered  not  worth  taking  as  a  gift,  will  have 
their  value.  If  this  prove  correct,  these  plains  alone  will  graze 
enough  cattle  to  feed  half  a  dozen  states.  It  is  certain  they  af 
ford  sustenance  to  vast  herds  of  buffaloes,  which  keep  in  won 
derfully  fine  condition. 

As  daylight  dawned  on  our  way  towards  Fort  Hays,  several 
dark  indefinable  spots  on  the  horizon  were  pointed  out  as  small 
herds  of  buffalo.  They  were  entirely  too  far  distant  to  enable 
us  to  make  a  minute  examination  of  the  monstrous  beast.  We 
who  had  never  yet  had  the  pleasure  of  feasting  our  eyes  upon  a 
live  buffalo,  excepting  some  unfortunate  representative  of  the 
species  in  a  menagerie,  were  left  at  least  to  the  gratifying  reflec 
tion  that  we  had  some  evidence  that  there  were  buffaloes  in  the 
country  and  that  such  an  animal  had  an  existence,  and  we  a 
very  good  prospect  of  verifying  the  fact. 

It  was  not  long  before  several  shots  fired  from  the  window  of 
the  forward  car  created  some  excitement.  As  the  savages  had 
appeared  in  sight  of  the  railroad  several  days  before,  each  man 
seized  his  rifle  which  he  loaded  and  kept  near  at  hand  ready 
for  a  brush.  In  the  car  in  which  I  was  seated  I  observed 
twenty-five  stand  of  arms,  breech -loading  rifles,  and  a  large 
chest  of  metallic  centre  primecl  n.eedle- cartridges,  provided  by 


20  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

the  railroad  company,  for  the  use  of  the  employees  to  defend 
their  trains  against  Indian  attacks. 

As  soon  as  the  firing  commenced  several  of  the  train  men 
rushed  into  the  car  in  which  I  was  seated,  snatched  a  rifle  from 
the  rack,  rammed  a  couple  of  handsful  of  cartridges  in  their 
pockets  and  darted  back  again  into  the  forward  car. 

At  this  juncture  as  I  thought  things  were  getting  serious  I 
re-examined  my  own  rifle,  buckled  on  a  pair  of  pistols,  slung 
my  cartridge  box  over  my  shoulder  and  started  forward  to  look 
into  the  cause  of  all  the  commotion.  At  this  moment  a  shout 
"Buffalo  crossing  the  track"  was  heard  and  bang !  bang !  bang ! 
simultaneously  went  several  pieces.  Poking  my  head  out  of 
the  car  window  I  observed  a  small  herd  of  six  buffalo  bulls  run 
ning  at  full  speed  parallel  with  the  train,  about  a  hundred  yards 
ahead  and  not  more  than  sixty  feet  from  the  track.  The  stupid 
animals  seemed  bent  upon  crossing,  but  finding  the  locomotive 
pursuing  too  closely,  at  the  last  moment  turned  and  attempted 
to  get  out  of  reach.  While  the  pursuit  was  going  on,  a  number 
of  shots  were  fired  but  without  effect.  As  the  herd  left  the 
track,  the  engineer  slackened  the  speed  of  the  train.  A  fusilade 
now  began  in  earnest.  Each  person  vied  with  the  other  in  firing 
the  most  shots.  Two  of  the  animals  were  wounded,  one  mor 
tally.  The  locomotive  whistled  "down  breaks."  Without 
waiting  for  the  train  to  stop  every  one,  engineer,  conductor, 
brakesman  and  passengers,  leaving  only  the  fireman,  jumped  off 
the  cars  and  gave  chase.  The  wounded  buffalo  still  on  his  feet, 
with  great  effort  was  trying  to  make  his  escape.  He  had  been 
shot  in  the  thigh  and  though  retarded,  made  good  progress,  when 
another  ball  taking  effect  in  the  other  leg,  let  his  hind-quarters 
down  upon  the  ground.  Nothing  daunted  the  wounded  animal 
made  every  exertion  to  drag  himself  off,  on  his  two  fore  feet, 
when  a  ball  under  the  shoulder  put  an  end  to  his  sufferings  and 
his  efforts  to  rejoin  his  companions.  A  cheer  wound  up  the 
railroad  chase,  when  the  busy  knives  of  "professionals"  in  hip- 
joint  operations,  soon  had  the  "rumps"  severed  and  after  cut 
ting  out  the  tongues  and  a  few  strips  of  "hump"  the  rest  of  the 


ON7    Til  E    DOIIDKIIS.  21 

two  immense  carcasses  were  left  as  a  dainty  and  abundant  re 
past  for  the  wolf.  The  meat  was  put  on  the  train,  and  again  we 
continued  our  journey.  Both  the  animals  killed  were  bulls,  and, 
judging  from  the  rings  on  their  horns  and  their  long  shaggy 
manes,  had  already  outlived  the  ordinary  life-time  of  their  spe 
cies. 

Without  further  delay  at  about  noon  the  train  reached  Hays 
city.  Here  for  the  present  was  the  termination  of  my  journey. 

Hays  city  was,  and  probably  is  still  if  not  migrated  further 
west  as  is  a  peculiar  habit  of  plains  towns,  located  on  the  rail 
road,  three  hundred  miles  from  the  eastern  state  line  of  Kansas 
and  five  hundred  and  eighty  three  miles  west  of  St.  Louis.  Its 
population,  composed  of  Americans,  Germans,  Swiss,  French, 
Jews,  Mexicans,  and  a  few  women,  numbered  not  more  than 
two  hundred  souls.  The  place  when  the  terminus  of  the  road, 
could  have  mustered  a  much  stronger  force,  but  with  the  rail 
road,  all  the  restless  spirits  pushed  farther  west.  Even  the 
houses  were  taken  down  and  carried  to  Phil  Sheridan  station,  a 
hundred  miles  away.  The  houses  still  standing  at  the  time 
of  my  visit  were  the  depot,  the  hotel,  a  dozen  "rum  holes"  and 
a  few  shops,  mainly  kept  by  Jews,  a  drug  store,  a  lawyer's 
office  and  the  post-office.  These  were  all  built  of  wood  in  the 
most  economical  manner,  frequently  with  canvas  roofs.  The 
citizens  occupied  "doabee"  huts  and  tents. 

Wonderful  stories  of  an  excessively  sanguinary  character 
were  told  me  concerning  the  early  ages  of  Hays  city,  that  was 
about  twelve  months  before.  Drunken  brawls,  murders  and 
robberies,  were  the  every  day  enjoyment  of  the  citizens. 


22  SIIEKIDAN'S   TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  III. 

FORT  HATS  —  ITS   GARRISON — THE   COMMANDING   GENERAL — THE  INDIANS. 

>EAVING  the  train,  and  stepping  upon  the  platform  ex 
tending  along  the  track,  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet 
Lieutenant  Kelley,  of  the  '"Thirty-eighth."  In  his 
company  I  rode  over  to  the  Fort,  about  a  mile  distant. 
Fort  Hays,  the  headquarters  of  the  department  in  the 
field,  was  built  on  a  high  ridge  rising  from  Big  Creek,  a  stream 
twenty  feet  in  width,  and  tributary  to  the  Smokev  Hill.  In 
point  of  location  and  design,  for  those  consigned  to  the  isolation 
of  life  on  the  plains,  I  conceive  this  to  be  a  most  desirable  ptace. 
The  quarters  consisted  of  a  row  of  eight  double  frame  houses, 
one  and  three-fourths  stories  high,  neatly  furnished  and  painted 
both  within  and  without,  and  had  a  decided  appearance  of  com 
fort.  These  quarters  fronted  on  one  face  of  the  parade,  while 
the  other  three  sides  were  enclosed  by  the  frame  barracks  for 
the  troops.  The  hospital,  quartermaster's  and  commissary's 
buildings,  and  the  corral,  occupied  positions  apart  from  the  fort 
proper.  On  the  left  were  sheds  with  accommodations  for  the 
horses  of  a  cavalry  squadron.  The  country,  however,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  fort  was  perfectly  uninviting,  and  an  excellent 
sample  of  the  worst  features  of  the  plains ;  high  swelling  di 
vides,  covered  with  buffalo  grass  in  bunches,  and  not  a  tree  iu 
sight,  excepting  a  few  scattered  specimens  on  the  banks  of  Big 
Creek. 

I  was  kindly  tendered  comfortable  quarters,  and  at  the  same 
time  having  made  some  arrangements  in  regard  to  rations,  I 
soon  felt  perfectly  at  home.  I  have  frequently  since  thanked 
my  good  fortune  in  meeting  Lieutenant  Kelley.  It  was  to  his 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  23 

unexpected  and  preliminary  courtesy  that  I  owed  much  of  the 
pleasure  I  experienced,  in  more  than  a  month's  residence  at  the 

Fort. 

At  the  time  of  my  arrival,  General  Sheridan,  the  Command 
ing  General  of  the  Department,  was  absent,  but  was  moment 
arily  expected  from  Fort  Harker,  where  I  passed  his  special 
car  the  night  before. 

The  remainder  of  my  first  day  I  quite  agreeably  occupied  in 
making  the  acquaintance  of  the  little  community  of  officers  and 
their  families.  The  post  was  commanded  by  Major  Yard,  10th 
cavalry.  The  other  post-officers  were  Brevet  Major  Kimball, 
Quartermaster ;  Dr.  Buchanan,  Surgeon,  and  Lieutenant  Reed, 
5th  infantry,  Adjutant.  The  garrison  consisted  of  Ovenshine's 
company,  3rd  infantry,  Clous'  company,  38th  infantry,  and 
Brotherton's  company,  5th  infantry,  Lieutenant  Borden,  com 
manding.  * 

The  Commanding  General,  as  his  military  family  in  the  field, 
was  at  this  time  accompanied  by  Brevet  Brigadier  General 
Forsyth,  (Tony),  Major  10th  Cavalry,  Inspector  General ;  Bre 
vet  Lieutenant  Colonel  McGonnigle,  Captain  and  Quartermaster ; 
Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  Crosby,  1st  artillery,  Acting  Assist 
ant  Adjutant  General,  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonels  Moore,  Cap 
tain  40th  infantry,  and  Sheridan,  Captain,  7th  cavalry,  Aids- 
de-Camp,  and  Dr.  Asch,  Staff  Surgeon. 

After  the  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  the  only  amusements 
away  from  the  post,  that  of  a  gallop  over  the  plains,  or  an  occa 
sional  buffalo  hunt,  were  cut  off,  owing  to  the  possibility  of  en 
countering  a  band  of  warriors,  or  more  likely  being  cut  off  by 
them.  The  society  of  the  post  was  enlivened  by  the  presence 
of  three  estimable  ladies,-wives  of  officers,  Mrs.  Major  Kimball, 
Mrs.  Dr.  Buchanan,  and  Mrs.  Captain  Ovenshine. 

During  the  same  evening  I  enjoyed  the  honor  of  an  intro 
duction  to  the  Commanding  General,  who  had  now  returned. 
Although,  during  the  fall  of  1864,  I  visited  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  while  he  was  in  command  of  that  region,  I  was  prevent- 


24  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS. 

cd,  by  illness,  from  overtaking  him,  in  time  to  witness  his  bril 
liant  victories,  and  becoming  personally  acquainted  with  him. 

The  conversation,  of  course,  was  on  the  subject  of  the  war.  In 
dian  fighting  was  evidently  not  a  new  thing  to  the  General,  and 
his  plans  were  so  arranged  as  to -accomplish  the  greatest  results 
with  the  least  means.  His  military  department  embraced  the 
states  of  Missouri  and  Kansas,  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  and  the 
Indian  Territory,  an  extent  of  country  equal,  in  area,  to  nearly 
a  half  dozen  ordinary  states.  The  Pacific  Railway,  it  is  true, 
was  convenient,  as  communicating  with  the  base  of  operations, 
and  enabled  him  to  establish  large  depots  of  supplies  at  the 
forts  on  the  line.  This  was  the  least  portion  of  the  labor. 
Stores  had  to  be  shipped  to  the  posts  away  from  the  railroad, 
and  that  too,  within  a  limited  time,  before  the  setting  in  of  the 
wintry  storms.  Government  wagon  trains, as  well  as  "citizen" 
trains,  were  constantly  passing  between  the  railroad  and  Forts 
Dodge,  Wallace,  and  Lyon.  Large  contracts  were  also  given 
out  for  the  supply  of  Fort  Bascom,  from  New  Mexico,  and  Fort 
Arbuckle,  .from  Kansas,  and  the  Cherokee  county.  This  was 
literally  going  back  to  warfare  according  to  first  principles. 
The  General,  certainly,  had  now  a  fair  opportunity  of  making 
up  his  mind  as  to  the  utility,  convenience,  and  economy  of  rail 
ways,  as  compared  with  wagon  trains,  in  conducting  warlike 
operations. 

The  theatre  of  war  was  so  ef  tensive,  that  there  were  about 
the  same  chances  of  scouting  parties  finding  the  Indians,  as  for 
a  fleet  of  vessels  at  sea  to  encounter  an  enemy's  squadrons. 
The  General  had  thoroughly  made  up  his  mind  that  it  was  a 
profitless  task  to  undertake  to  punish  hostile  bands  when  the 
grass  was  in  a  condition  to  afford  nourishment  for  their  ponies. 
At  such  a  time  he  felt  that  they  would  be  able  to  protract  the 
war  indefinitely.  He  resolved  to  make  the  experiment  of  a 
winter  campaign.  It  was  very  certain,  when  the  grass  lacked 
its  nutritious  properties,  the  Indian  pony  would  soon  weaken 
and  break  down.  During  the  winter  season  he  well  knew  the 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  25 

savages  suspended  all  warlike  expeditions,  in  a  word  were  para 
lyzed.  Their  families  could  not  move  with  the  same  facility  as 
in  summer,  and  in  certain  conditions  of  the  weather  it  was  im 
possible  to  move  their  lodges  at  all.  A  bold  dash  into  the  heart 
of  the  Indian  country,  though  at  the  risk  of  much  suffering  to 
the  men  and  loss  of  animals,  was  certain  to  effect  some  benefi 
cial  results.  If  it  demonstrated  to  the  savages  no  more  than 
the  fact  that  they  were  safe  at  no  season  of  the  year,  that  the 
"soldiers"  could  travel  on  the  war-path  when  they  themselves 
could  not  fight  nor  run  away  with  their  families,  the  effect  would 
unquestionably  make  a  deep  impression  on  their  minds. 

It  was  still  several  months  before  winter  could  be  considered 
as  having  fairly  set  in,  and  to  start  before  that  time  would  be  a 
waste  of  energy  and  material  with  little  chance  of  rctu;n.  It 
was  necessary,  however,  to  keep  advised,  as  far  as  possible,  of 
the  movements  of  the  savage  war  parties,  as  indicated  by  their 
trails,  which  could  be  easily  tracked  on  the  plain  by  experienced 
Indian  fighters.  The  General  was  particularly  anxious  to  watch 
the  savages  north  of  the  railroad  along  the  Republican  and  its 
tributaries,  and,  by  constant  demonstrations,  hoped  so  to  alarm 
them  as  to  cause  their  movement  towards  the  south.  He  would 
then  have  all  the  refractory  bands  well  in  hand  for  an  excellent 
chase  and  sure  punishment.  At  the  same  time  the  line  of  rail 
road  defended,  even  by  a  small  force,  would  be  entirely  safe  for 
the  passage  of  trains.  For  these  reasons  the  majority  of  the 
preliminary  movements  of  the  campaign  were  directed  towards 
the  north. 

It  will  be  interesting  here  to  furnish  some  statistics  respecting 
the  Indians  who  were  hostile  or  contributed  to  the  war.  While 
the  war  was  going  on  at  the  south,  the  Sioux  sent  parties,  not 
only  down  as  far  as  the  Platte  to  commit  depredations  along 
the  Union  Pacific  railroad,  but  a  large  force  of  warriors  extended 
their  hostile  movements  to  the  Republican,  joining  the  northern 
bands  of  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes.  With  due  allowance,  the 
number  of  Sioux  actually  participating,  may  be  set  down  at  one 
thousand.  This  gives  the  following  estimated  results  : 


26  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

The  bands  north  of  the  Arkansas — 

Sioux , 1,000 

Cheyennes 1,800 

Arrapahoes 750 

3,550 
The  bands  south  of  the  Arkansas — 

Cheyennes 1,500 

Comanches , 1,500 

Kiowas    1,086 

Arrapahoes 860 

Apaches,  (Lipans)   281 


Total 8,777 

Out  of  this  aggregate  of  all  ages  and  sexes,  the  five  bands, 
together  with  the  Sioux,  could  muster  about  two  thousand  war 
riors.  Within  the  limits  of  the  department  was  an  aggregate 
Indian  population,  embracing  friendly  Indians  on  reservations 
and  the  wild  tribes  above  mentioned,  amounting  to  over  ninety 
thousand  souls. 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  27 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  NOMADIC  TRIBES  OP  THE  PLAINS — EVENTS  WHICH  PRECEDED  THE  OUTBREAK 

OP  1868. 

N  this  connection,  I  desire  to  contribute  a  few  preliminary 
(^  historic  facts  respecting  the  Plains  Indians,  for  the  in 
formation  of  the  reader,  before  proceeding  farther  into 
the  events  which  I  have  to  narrate. 

The  great  Indian  families  that  once  occupied  the  entire 
North  American  continent  have  presented,  at  different  times,  ex 
cellent  types  of  intellectual  and  moral  eminence  in  the  leaders  of 
the  powerful  coalitions  of  Indian  valor  and  martial  skill  frequent 
ly  formed  to  repel  the  aggressions  of  the  white  race.  Indian 
history  furnishes  repeated  instances  of  fierce  and  sanguinary 
wars  excited  by  the  fears  or  superstitions  of  warriors  who  fore 
saw  the  inevitable  destiny  of  their  race,  had  the  heroic  courage 
to  lift  their  arms  to  check  the  surging  wave,  and  were  ready 
to  die  in  defence  of  the  hunting  grounds  of  their  progenitors 
Against  the  obstacles  thus  thrown  in  the  way  of  civilization 
and  the  security  of  the  frontiers,  the  white  settlers  continued 
to  spread  over  the  country,  the  Appalachian  chain  was  soon 
crossed,  and  to  day,  less  than  three  centuries  since  the  estab 
lishment  of  the  first  white  settlement  on  the  shores  of  America, 
the  remnants  only  of  these  primitive  Indian  families  are  to  be 
found,  confined  within  the  restricted  limits  of  reservations  west 
of  the  Father  of  Waters,  far  remote  from  the  seats  of  their 
ancestors. 

Still  farther  west,  in  the  depths  of  the  great  plains  extending 
away  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  we  find  a  savage 
people  of  the  same  race,  but  governed  by  widely  different  in- 


28  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

stincts  and  superstitions.  Their  habits  vary  from  the  other 
representatives  of  their  race  who  lived  along  the  great  rivers  of 
the  Atlantic  and  in  the  expansive  valleys  of  the  western  slope 
of  the  Alleghanies.  These  people  of  the  plains  are  literally 
nomadic,  and  in  their  habits  show  many  points  of  resemblance 
to  the  barbarous  hordes  that  roam  over  the  steppes  of  Central 
Asia. 

Until  within  the  past  few  years,  these  nomads  of  the  great 
American  plains,  protected  by  the  vastness  and  inaccessibility 
of  the  country  they  occupied,  experienced  no  sense  of  external 
danger,  and  pursued  their  habits  of  life  undisturbed  and  without 
fear.  The  complete  seclusion  of  these  primitive  people  may 
be  judged  from  the  fact  that  even  now  little  is  known  of  those 
who  first  came  in  contact  with  the  pioneers  of  civilization,  and 
there  are  bands  at  this  late  day  that  have  never  had  any  direct 
intercourse  whatever  with  the  whites.  The  aggregate  population 
of  the  Indian  tribes  is  estimated,  or  rather  computed,  at  very 
nearly  three  hundred  thousand  souls,  of  which  number  a  little 
more  than  one  third  dwell  upon  the  great  plains. 

The  census  of  tribes  is  either  by  actual  count,  upon  Indian 
authority,  or  by  approximation,  taken  for  the  convenience  of 
distributing  annuities  to  the  Indians  having  treaty  relations 
with  the  government.  In  some  cases  the  census  of  a  band  is 
taken  by  the  Indian  chiefs  themselves.  This  they  do  by  re 
quiring  the  heads  of  families  to  furnish  a  small  stick  for  each 
human  being  in  the  lodge.  These  sticks  are  tied  in  a  bundle 
with  a  strip  of  raw-hide,  and  by  the  chief  handed  to  the  proper 
government  officer.  The  chiefs  always  allow  a  liberal  margin, 
and  instances  are  mentioned  where  they  did  not  fail  to  include 
in  their  count  all  the  perceptibly  prospective  progeny  of  the 
band,  and  likewise  dropped  in  a  dog  or  two  as  an  allowance  for 
contingencies. 

The  feeling  of  security  entertained  by  the  wild  inhabitants 
of  the  mountains  and  plains,  dissipated  by  the  encroachment 
of  the  whites,  has  naturally  conduced  to  inimical  relations  be 
tween  the  two  races. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  29 

The  Plains  Tribes  have,  as  yet,  presented  no  prominent 
•warriors  in  the  character  of  leaders.  Their  mode  of  living,  and 
the  precarious  means  of  obtaining  a  supply  of  food  at  certain 
seasons,  rather  indicates  the  impracticability  of  ever  organizing 
in  large  masses,  though  a  confederacy  of  co-operating  tribes 
would  be  a  possibility,  and,  under  the  organizing  and  authorita 
tive  voice  of  a  chief  equal  to  the  emergency,  would  result  in  a 
protracted,  merciless,  and  'intricate  war.  The  plains  are  well 
adapted  to  the  part  of  border  hostilities,  and  the  wild  tribes 
that  inhabit  them,  mounted  on  fleet  and  hardy  ponies,  and 
familiar  with  every  foot  of  the  monotonous  waste  around  them, 
would  be  capable  of  keeping  up  a  constant  annoyance  of  the 
frontiers,  retiring  upon  the  approach  of  danger.  The  success 
of  a  campaign,  in  a  country  so  extensive,  would  depend  entirely 
upon  the  co-operation  of  different  columns,  and  conducted  in 
the  winter  season,  in  spite  of  wind,  and  rain,  and  snow.  The 
possibility  of  such  a  campaign  has  been  demonstrated  in  that  >* 
which  I  am  about  to  narrate. 

In  reviewing  some  facts  in  Indian  affairs  during  the  past  two 
years,  it  is  certain  that  the  prosecution  of  our  interoceanic  rail 
ways  has  developed  a  more  determined  and  restless  spirit  of 
opposition  than  that  which  existed  against  the  ordinary  old- 
fashioned  emigrant  trains,  and  will  henceforth  demand  more 
enlarged  efforts  and  vigorous  measures  to  secure  the  peace, 
quiet,  and  security  of  the  country  on  both  sides  of  these  great 
highways.  The  discoveries  of  gold  and  other  metals,  constantly 
enlarging  our  acquaintance  with  the  auriferous  regions  of  the 
far  west,  and  the  presence  of  government  surveying  parties, 
combine  to  increase  this  uneasiness. 

To  avert,  if  possible,  the  calamity  of  an  Indian  outbreak, 
during  the  summer  of  1867,  Congress  authorized  the  appoint 
ment  of  a  Board  of  Commissioners  clothed  with  ample  powers 
to  treat  with  the  Indians  manifesting  signs  of  hostility,  and  to 
seek,  if  possible,  a  practical  and  peaceable  solution  of  the 
impending  difficulties.  This  Board  was  known  as  the  Peace 
Commission.  To  avoid  all  clashing  of  authority,  the  operations 


30  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

of  the  army,  by  order  of  the  Executive  of  the  nation,  wero 
made  to  conform  to  the  suggestions  and  wishes  of  the  Commis 
sion.  Thus,  with  every  facility  open  for  the  accomplishment 
of  the  humane  wishes  of  the  government,  the  Commissioners 
commenced  the  work  before  them.  The  reservation  system 
appeared  the  most  simple  and  feasible  method  of  solving  the 
question.  It  was,  therefore,  proposed  to  remove  the  Indians 
from  the  routes  of  travel  and  settlement,  and  to  maintain  them 
at  the  expense  of  the  national  government.  To  accomplish 
this  end,  it  was  proposed  to  lay  out  two  extensive  reservations — 
one  to  lie  north  of  the  State  of  Nebraska  and  west  of  Missouri 
river;  the  other,  south  of  the  State  of  Kansas  and  west  of  the 
Arkansas  river. 

With  this  theory  in  mind,  and  confident  of  the  success  of 
what  they  considered  a  plan  which  the  Indian  could  easily 
comprehend  and  would  be  willing  to  accept,  the  Commissioners 
made  their  appearance  in  the  Indian  country  during  the  month 
of  October  following.  On  the  twenty-first  day  of  that  month 
they  met  many  of  the  chiefs  and  headmen  of  the  Kiowa  and 
Comanche  tribes  at  the  Council  Camp  on  Medicine  Lodge  creek, 
seventy  miles  south  of  Fort  Larned.  This  creek,  a  tributary 
of  one  of  the  forks  of  the  Arkansas,  was  a  favorite  resort  of  the 
Indians  on  occasions  of  ceremony,  and  received  its  name  from 
the  practice  of  making  "medicine"  there  to  serve  for  good  luck 
in  important  undertakings. 

The  council  "talk"  resulted  in  a  treaty,  so  called,  or  agree 
ment,  to  which  all  the  chiefs  and  headmen  of  the  two  nations 
present  appended  their  marks,  and  in  return  received  some 
tangible  evidences  of  the  friendship  of  the  government. 

A  very  brief  synopsis  of  this  treaty  may  not  be  ill  timed,  as 
these  documents  are  entirely  novel,  except  to  a  limited  class  of 
officials,  contractors,  and  speculators,  particularly  interested  in 
them.  The  treaty  provided  for  the  protection  of  human  life 
and  the  punishment  of  offenders ;  defined  the  limits  of  reserva 
tions;  encouraged  the  cultivation  of  crops;  provided  for  the 
erection  of  agency  buildings,  the  transfer  of  lands,  the  payment 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  31 

of  bounties,  the  employment  of  a  physician,  farmer,  blacksmith, 
carpenter,  engineer,  and  miller,  and  for  the  education  of  the 
Indian ;  denned  the  annuity  articles  to  be  annually  distributed 
as  follows :  for  each  male  person  over  fourteen  years  of  age, 
a  suit  of  good  substantial  winter  clothing,  consisting  of  coat, 
pantaloons,  flannel  shirt,  hat,  and  a  pair  of  home-made  socks  ; 
for  each  female  over  twelve  years  of  age,  a  flannel  skirt  or  the 
goods  necessary  to  make  it,  a  pair  of  woolen  hose,  and  twelve 
yards  of  "  domestics ;"  for  boys  and  girls  under  the  ages  named, 
such  flannel  and  cotton  goods  as  might  be  needed  to  make  each 
a  suit,  as  above,  together  with  a  pair  of  woolen  hose  for  each ; 
provided  for  a  census  and  the  necessary  appropriations  to  carry 
out  the  provisions  of  the  treaties,  and  for  the  issue  of  hunting 
permits. 

In  regard  to  the  security  of  the  railways  and  settlements, 
important  stipulations  were  entered  into. 

At  the  same  time  and  place,  the  Apache  (Lipan),  tribe  was 
confederated  with  the  Kiowas  and  Comanches,  and  placed  on 
an  equal  footing  with  them  in  every  respect.  They  agreed  to 
accept  the  reservation  of  the  Kiowas  and  Comanches  as  their 
own,  and  pledged  themselves  to  make  no  settlements  outside. 

On  October  twenty-eighth  following,  at  the  same  place,  the 
Commissioners  met  the  chiefs  and  headmen  of  the  Cheyennes 
and  Arrapahoes  and  consummated  a  "  treaty "  similar  in  all 
respects  to  the  other,  presenting  only  a  different  reservation. 

Having  completed  their  negotiations  with  the  wild  tribes  of 
the  southern  plains,  in  the  following  spring  the  Commissioners 
proceeded  to  Fort  Laramie,  Dakota  Territory,  and,  at  that  point, 
arranged  a  "  treaty  "  with  the  northern  Cheyennes  and  Arrapa 
hoes.  Those  Indians  agreed  to  the  same  terms  as  determined 
with  the  southern  bands,  and  also  promised  to  occupy  the 
northern  reservation  or  join  that  portion  of  their  people  living 
along  the  Arkansas. 

The  main  source  of  the  uneasiness  felt  by  the  Plains  Indians, 
as  displayed  in  their  councils,  was  the  encroachments  of  the 
whites  upon  their  hunting  grounds.  It  was  with  a  keen  sense 


32  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

of  their  fate  that  they  contemplated  the  opening  of  roads. 
The  Sioux  took  a  decided  stand,  and  in  very  plain  terms 
alluded  to  the  consequences  if  the  whites  persisted  in  opening 
the  road  through  the  Powder  river  country,  declaring  that  that 
section  constituted  the  only  hunting-grounds  they  had  left,  and 
that  they  would  defend  them.  It  was  by  this  route  that  it 
was  proposed  to  open  communication  with  the  upper  settlements 
in  the  far  west.  The  construction  of  the  Platte  railroad  now 
obviated  the  necessity  of  passing  through  the  Powder  river 
country,  and  it  was  determined  by  the  Commissioners  to  comply 
with  the  wishes  of  the  Indians  by  abandoning  that  section 
entirely. 

Early  in  1868,  in  compliance  with  this  action  of  the  Com 
mission,  the  General  of  the  army  gave  the  necessary  orders  for 
the  evacuation.  This  surrender  of  territory,  in  compliance  with 
the  wishes  of  the  Indians,  was  immediately  construed  into  a 
compulsory  evacuation,  and  even  while  the  public  stores  were 
being  removed  the  tribes  along  the  route  of  march  began  open 
depredations.  These  raids  were  carried  on  as  low  down  as  the 
railroad  and  into  Colorado. 

The  Commissioners  had  now  withdrawn  and  returned  to 
Washington  to  make  their  report.  They  had,  it  is  true,  made 
"treaties,"  and  their  fulfilment  was  confidently  anticipated. 
Meanwhile  the  northern  Indians  gloried  in  what  they  consid 
ered  a  triumph.  Runners  were  at  once  dispatched  to  commu 
nicate  with  the  tribes  in  the  south,  to  inform  them  of  the  success 
of  their  demands  for  the  surrender  of  their  hunting-grounds, 
and  advising  a  warlike  attitude,  which  they  declared  would  lead 
to  the  abandonment  of  the  Smoky  Hill  country. 

There  is  no  question,  that,  had  the  Commission  acted  on  the 
principle  of  yielding  nothing  that  had  once  been  accomplished 
and  contented  themselves  with  making  no  new  demands,  except 
to  secure  the  railways  from  attack,  the  result  would  have  been 
different.  The  Indian,  naturally  enough,  interpreted  the  action 
of  the  Commission  to  fear,  because  it  was  a  part  of  his  training 
to  recognize  such  influences  as  the  only  way  to  bring  about 
concessions. 


ON  THK  BORDERS.  31 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  MASSACRES  ON  THE  SALINE  AND  THE  SOLOMON — WAR  INAUGURATED— PREP 
ARATIONS  FOR  THE  CONTEST SHERIDAN  ATTEMPTS  PEACEABLY 

TO  CHECK  THE  TRIBES  IN  THE   SOUTH. 

NTIL  midsummer  unusual  quiet  prevailed  in  the  south. 
Most  of  the  Indians  had  withdrawn  from  the  vicinity 
of  the  military  posts  to  more  remote  and  inaccessible 
regions.  A  party  of  two  hundred  Cheyennes,  four 
Arrapahoes  and  twenty  Sioux,  for  sometime  in  camp 
on  the  Pawnee,  north  of  the  Arkansas,  suddenly  took  the  war 
path,  as  they  asserted,  against  the  Pawnee  Indians.  The  move 
ments  of  ihe  savages  were  matched  with  suspicion.  They  had 
retired  west  of  the  Fort  Dodge  road,  and  with  great  ceremony 
performed  the  first  step  to  a  great  undertaking,  making  "  medi 
cine."  About  the  twelfth  of  August,  this  same  party  appeared 
in  the  valley  of  the  Saline  north  of  Fort  Harker.  The  settlers 
unprepared  for  such  a  visit,  treated  the  visitors  with  great 
kindness,  hoping  to  dissuade  them  from  the  execution  of  any 
evil  intentions  they  might  have  in  view.  But  the  savages  soon 
threw  off  their  guise  of  friendship  and  stood  forth  in  their  real 
attitude.  They  inaugurated  their  depredations  by  assuming  a 
dictatorial  manner.  The  next  step  was  to  force  their  way  into 
the  cabins.  They  now  commenced  to  pillage  and  murder, 
and  committed  every  form'  of  outrage  upon  men,  women,  and 
children. 

Two  days  later  the  same  force  visited  the  settlements  on  the 
Solomon,  destroyed  the  houses,  drove  off  stock,  killed  thirteen 
men,  and  perpetrated  other  barbarities.  The  baud  now  broke 
up  into  detachments  aiid  scattered  over  the  country,  some 
moving  off  towards  the  north,  along  the  Republican,  while 

3 


34  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

the  main  party  commenced  depredations  along  the  line  of  the 
Smoky. 

Intelligence  of  the  conduct  of  the  Indians  on  the  Saline  and 
Solomon  was  conveyed,  by  the  fugitive  settlers,  to  Fort  Harker. 
The  garrison  was  at  once  put  in  condition  for  active  service. 
As  a  hasty  means  of  relief  to  the  settlements,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Beuteen,  was  ordered  out  with  one  company  of  the  7th 
cavalry.  On  August  fourteenth,  he  arrived  at  Spillman's 
creek,  while  the  Indians  were  attacking.  His  unexpected 
appearance  so  alarmed  the  savages  that  they  took  to  flight, 
thus  sparing  the  lives  of  the  settlers  at  that  point. 

The  news  of  the  outbreak  was  at  once  communicated  to 
General  Sheridan  who  was  at  his  head-quarters  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth.  Withjiis  customary  celerity  of  action,  he  resolved  to 
take  the  field  and  inaugurate  a  series  of  movements  in  hopes 
of  punishing  the  offenders.  Fort  Harker  on  the  line  of  the 
Kansas  Pacific  railway,  was  selected  as  the  point  for  head-quar 
ters  in  the  field,  removing  soon  after  to  Fort  Hays,  farther 
west.  Thither  the  Commanding  General  repaired  by  special 
train.  Reports  were  constantly  coming  in  of  other  depreda 
tions.  An  attack  was  made  on  a  Mexican  train,  at  Pawnee 
fork,  above  the  Cimmaron  crossing,  and  a  war-party  of  savages 
appeared  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  of  Sheridan,  at  the  term 
inus  of  the  railroad;  the  Denver  stage  coaches  were  pursued 
and  acts  were  committed  which  could  not  be  misconstrued.  Up 
to  this  time  but  two  tribes,  the  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes, 
were  known  to  have  taken  up  the  hatchet. 

The  Commanding  General  at  his  head-quarters  at  Fort  Har 
ker  saw  plainly  that  all  peaceable  efforts  to  secure  the  return  of 
the  refractory  bands  to  order  were  fruitless.  His  only  course  was 
a  resort  to  force.  On  the  twenty-fourth  of  August,  he  accord 
ingly  issued  a  general  order  which  served  as  a  declaration  of 
war.  By  the  middle  of  September,  the  Indians  in  hostile  num 
bers  had  made  their  appearance  in  all  parts  of  the  Department 
west  of  Fort  Riley,  north  as  far  as  the  Platte  river,  to  the 
Arkansas  in  the  south,  and  westward  into  Colorado.  The  lines 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  35 

of  travel  demanding  protection  were  the  Kansas  Pacific  railway, 
for  a  distance  of  over  two  hundred  miles,  the  stage  routes,  and 
lines  of  travel  from  the  terminus  of  the  railroad  to  Denver, 
nearly  two  hundred  miles,  and  into  New  Mexico,  over  four  hun 
dred  miles.  Besides  these  the  settlements  on  the  Saline,  the  Sol 
omon,  the  Republican,  and  the  Smoky  Hill,  needed  some  means 
of  defence,  while  the  posts  of  Forts  Riley,  Harker,  Hays,  and 
Wallace,  along  the  railroad,  Forts  Lyon  and  Bascom  in  the 
west,  Forts  Dodge,  Larned,  and  Zarah  on  the  Arkansas,  with 
an  outpost  at  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Arkansas,  and  Forts 
Arbuckle  and  Gibson,  in  the  Indian  Territory,  required  suitable 
garrisons.  To  meet  these  demands  upon  the  military  force  of 
the  Department,  the  Commanding  General  had,  as  his  whole 
available  strength,  nine  companies  of  the  seventh  cavalry,  eight 
companies  of  the  tenth  cavalry,  eleven  companies  of  the  third 
and  parts  of  the  fifth  and  thirty-eighth  regiments  of  infantry, 
a  total  of  about  twelve  hundred  cavalry  and  fourteen  hundred 
infantry.  After  the  distribution  of  this  force  in  guarding  the 
railroad,  garrisoning  the  different  posts,  and  protecting  the 
settlements,  the  only  force  for  duty  in  the  field,  consisted  of 
eleven  companies  of  cavalry,  seven  of  the  seventh  and  four  of 
the  tenth,  making  eight  hundred  men.  Early  in  the  preceding 
spring,  Grierson  had  been  sent  with  four  companies  of  the  tenth 
cavalry  to  Fort  Gibson.  The  garrison  at  Fort  Arbuckle  was 
also  strengthened  by  an  increase  of  two  companies  of  infantry. 
With  this  insignificant  force,  available  for  field  duty,  that  is 
eight  hundred  cavalry,  active  hostilities  were  commenced.  The 
country  over  which  the  savages  roamed  up  to  this  time,  covered 
an  area  of  at  least  two  hundred  miles  from  north  to  south,  or 
from  the  Republican  to  the  Arkansas,  and  almost  five  hundred 
miles  from  east  to  west,  or  from  Fort  Riley  to  the  Rocky  moun 
tains.  The  country  was  entirely  in  a  state  of  nature,  and  sup 
plies  were  only  to  be  conveyed,  by  the  tedious  process  of  wagon 
transportation,  at  immense  distances.  The  Indians  familiar 
with  these  vast  stretches  of  plain,  and  moving  from  place  to 
place  on  his  hardy  pony,  was  not  easy  to  find  and  when  found 


36  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

was  even  more  difficult  to  overtake  or  bring  to  an  engagement, 
except  with  great  odds  in  his  favor. 

The  troops  were  hastened  into  the  field,  and  scouting  parties* 
were  sent  in  all  directions.  Colonel  Forsyth  (Sandy),  with  fifty 
scouts  moved  to  the  Republican  on  the  north ;  Sully,  towards 
the  Cimmaron,  and  North  Fork  of  the  Canadian  on  the  south, 
Graham  conducted  an  expedition  in  the  direction  of  Denver ; 
Penrose  pursued  a  party  from  Fort  Lyon.  Owing  to  the  in 
creasing  magnitude  of  the  war,  a  regiment  of  volunteers  from 
the  State  of  Kansas,  was  recruited  by  Governor  Crawford, 
upon  the  authority  of  General  Sheridan.  By  the  latter  part 
of  September,  the  savages  had  killed  eighty  persons.  The 
frontiers  were  now  entirely  abandoned  by  the  settlers.  A  re 
inforcement  of  seven  companies  of  the  fifth  cavalry  was  brought 
from  the  east,  a  corps  of  scouts  was  organized,  and  preparations 
were  made  to  accumulate  a  large  store  of  supplies  at  the  prin 
cipal  forts. 

In  order  to  make  an  effort  to  keep  the  other  wild  tribes  in 
peaceable  relations,  the  Commanding  General  met  some  of  the 
leading  warriors  of  the  Arrapahoes,  and  about  ten  days  later, 
also,  met  a  few  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Kiowas,  Comanches  and 
Apaches.  The  savages  withdrew  promising  to  return.  They 
kept  their  promises  of  peace  by  inaugurating  a  general  attack 
along  the  line  of  the  Arkansas.  This  attack  was  led  by  the 
Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes,  assisted  by  war- parties  from  the 
bands  which  had  then  but  recently  expressed  in  the  most 
solemn  form,  their  pledge  of  friendship.  It  was  evident  now 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  that  the  Indians  were  bent  upon  a 
war,  and  there  was  no  alternative  but  to  fight  them. 


ON  THE  BORDERS  37 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A  JOURNEY  TO  THE  END  OP  THE  TRACK — IMMENSE  HERDS  OF  BUFFALOES — AN 
ADVENTURE — ARRIVAL  AT  SHERIDAN. 

'HE  "  end  of  the  track  "  was  one  of  those  indefinite  ex 
pressions  in  plains  parlance,  having  reference  to  the 
terminus  of  the  railroad,  somewhere  in  the  wilderness 
of  waste,  far  to  the  westward.  In  times  of  active 
construction  on  the  road  the  expression  was  par 
ticularly  applicable,  for  the  last  traveler  would  find  himself  pen 
etrating  regions  which  his  itinerary  predecessor  of  but  a  few 
days  before  had  never  thought  of  and  probably  no  white  man 
before,  except  the  surveying  party,  had  ever  visited.  The 
"  end  of  the  track,"  therefore,  meant  precisely  where  the  loco 
motive  stopped  running. 

At  eleven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  second  of  October, 
the  train  for  the  west  arrived  at  Hays  City.  I  was  one  of  a 
party  of  about  half  a  dozen  persons  who  had  been  awaiting  its 
arrival  for  two  long  and  monotonous  hours. 

My  fellow  passengers  altogether  numbered  about  twenty  per 
sons.  A  fiercer,  hirsute,  and  unwashed  set  I  never  saw.  With 
the  exception  of  two  ladies,  wives  of  officers,  the  rest  were  just 
the  characters  a  person  would  expect  to  meet  so  far  in  advance 
of  civilization.  And  yet  with  all  their  rough  exterior,  there 
was  traceable  in  most  of  them  an  honest,  a  wild,  unrestrained 
independence,  a  frankness  of  temperament,  a  fulness  of  soul, 
somewhat  surprising.  It  was  only  when  the  fearful  flames  of 
passion,  impelled  by  motives  of  revenge  or  enmity,  were  allowed 
to  find  vent,  that  the  worst  features  of  their  natures  broke  forth. 
For  my  part  I  found  them  pleasant  companions,  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  and  felt  well  satisfied  I  might  have  fared  worse 


38  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

The  conductor  of  the  train  was  a  man  of  sense  and  good  addresa 
He  had  much  experience  in  life  on  the  plains  and  was  the  man 
for  the  position  he  held.  He  always  had  his  rifle  by  his  side 
and  pistols,  either  about  his  waist,  or  where  he  could  conveniently 
put  his  hands  upon  them.  He  was  an  excellent  shot,  and  had 
several  bullet  scars  as  mementoes  of  early  conflicts. 

We  had  hardly  proceeded  fifteen  miles  on  our  journey  when 
we  came  in  sight  of  several  large  herds  of  buffaloes,  each  num 
bering  not  less  than  two  thousand  animals.  We  were  promised 
a  "  wonderful  sight  "  of  the  beast  by  the  conductor  of  the  train. 
Indeed,  so  marvelous  were  his  stories  that  he  was  listened  to 
with  evident  incredulity. 

As  we  increased  the  distance  from  the  last  settlement,  buffa 
loes,  rapidly  grew  in  numbers.  Thirty  miles  on  the  way  the 
country  was  literally  overrun.  The  main  herds  lay  on  the 
northern  side  of  the  track  and  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
not  less  than  a  distance  of  ten  to  fifteen  miles,  the  plain  was 
perfectly  black  with  them.  The  herds  nearest  the  track  alarmed 
at  the  strange  sounds  issuing  from  the  locomotive,  set  off  at  a 
rapid  lope,  heading  towards  the  north,  in  turn  setting  in  motion 
the  herds  before  them.  The  huge  animals  raised  such  a  dust 
that  for  some  minutes  it  was  impossible  to  see  more  than  a  long 
line  of  hind-quarters  and  elevated  tails.  A  number  of  isolated 
smaller  herds  which  had  crossed  to  the  south  upon  the  approach 
of  the  train,  invariably  raised  their  heads,  looked  at  us  for  an 
instant,  and  then  with  heads  down  and  tails  up  galloped  towards 
the  track  making  extraordinary  exertions  to  get  across  ahead 
of  the  locomotive.  In  trying  this  strategic  feat  one  specimen 
found  himself  forcibly  lifted  into  the  air  and  thrown  into  the 
ditch,  where  he  lay  upon  his  back,  his  cloven  feet  flourishing 
madly. 

Several  animals  had  been  shot  from  the  cars  out  of  this  herd. 
The  train  now  stopped  to  afford  time  to  bring  in  a  few  "  rumps." 
While  this  operation  was  going  on,  a  party  of  six  or  eight  of 
us  started  down  the  track  to  dispatch  the  buffalo,  still  kicking 
and  bellowing  with  a  mixture  of  suspense  and  rage,  displaying 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  39 

certain  serpentine  and  spasmodic  motions  of  the  dorsal  column, 
which  indicated  an  effort  to  get  on  his  feet.  When  our  party 
got  within  fifty  yards  a  shot  was  fired  at  the  animal  which 
seemed  to  have  a  peculiarly  vitalizing  effect.  At  all  events  it 
called  the  buffalo  to  a  sense  of  his  ludicrous  and  unnatural  posi 
tion.  With  one  desperate  effort  the  old  beast  regained  his  feet. 
Several  more  shots  were  instantly  fired,  but  none  seemed  to  take 
effect.  Instead  of  retreating  the  irate  quadruped  made  for  our 
party, coming  at  a  "full jump"  head  down,  tongue  out,  bleeding 
and  frothing  at  the  mouth,  eyes  flashing,  and  to  cap  the  climax 
of  his  terrible  exhibitions  of  infuriation,  roared  fearfully.  As 
there  was  no  time  to  lose,  and  to  fire  at  him  "head  on"  would 
be  but  a  waste  of  ammunition,  the  party  scattered  in  all  direc 
tions.  For  my  own  part,  I  took  occasion  to  make  a  few  long 
and  rapid  strides  across  the  track  into  the  ditch  on  the  other 
side.  The  rest  of  the  party  imitated  this  dexterous  movement 
without  many  moments  of  reflection.  Losing  sight  of  us,  the 
enraged  animal,  smarting  under  the  blow  he  had  received  from 
the  locomotive,  and  the  tickling  he  had  sustained  from  our  rifles, 
reaped  his  anger  upon  the  apposite  side  of  the  embankment  of 
the  railroad  by  rending  great  furrows  in  the  earth,  stamping  on 
the  ground,  raising  a  great  dust,  and  making  a  terrible  noise. 
It  was  very  certain  there  was  no  time  to  waste.  Should  his 
lordship  of  the  plains  spy  any  of  us  he  would  doubtless  renew 
the  offensive.  Raising  up  so  as  to  get  a  partial  sight  of  his 
carcass,  not  over  thirty  feet  off,  three  of  our  party  fired,  the  rest 
holding  in  reserve.  Every  ball  seemed  to  take  effect.  Almost 
instantly  the  animal  fell  upon  his  knees.  The  rest  then  fired, 
when  the  animal  rolled  completely  over.  His  tenacity  of  life 
was  perfectly  wonderful.  By  this  time  he  must  have  had  a 
dozen  bullets  in  his  body.  Notwithstanding  all  this  he  strug 
gled  and  swayed  to  and  fro  until  he  again  brought  himself  to 
his  feet.  But  all  power  to  harm  had  fled.  Planting  himself 
firmly,  moving  his  head  to  the  right  and  left,  his  eye  still  full 
of  fire,  the  noble  beast  looked  even  more  defiant.  From  his 
nostrils  ran  streams  of  blood. 


40  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

To  put  the  animal  out  of  misery  was  the  first  sense  of  re 
covery  from  our  stampede.  Repeated  shots  were  fired  into  his 
body.  Thug,  thug,  the  bullets  could  be  heard  penetrating  his 
thick  hide.  As  each  ball  entered,  a  slight  turn  of  the  head  and 
switch  of  the  tail  were  the  only  external  indications  of  the  effect 
of  the  bullet.  At  length  after  having  been  literally  "  peppered  " 
with  lead,  a  sudden  quiver  passed  over  the  animal's  entire  frame, 
he  staggered  and  fell.  One  deep  gasp,  a  convulsive  motion  of 
the  jaws,  one  sudden  flash  of  the  eye,  a  quantity  of  dark  clotted 
blood  ejected  from  the  nostrils,  and  the  buffalo  was  dead. 

Never  before  had  I  seen  such  an  exhibition  of  tenacious  rage 
and  vitality.  Had  the  animal  been  less  injured  by  the  locomo 
tive,  it  would  be  difficult  to  say  what  would  have  been  the  result 
of  his  charge  upon  our  party.  It  is  a  question,  however, 
whether  a  buffalo  would  attack  from  the  mere  impulse  of  destruc 
tion.  I  have  found  the  buffalo,  compared  with  his  remarkable 
physical  strength,  rather  disposed  to  be  timid.  Several  horse 
men  could  ride  into  the  midst  of  a  herd  of  ten  thousand  with 
comparative  safety,  select  their  game  and  dispatch  it ;  but  when 
wounded  the  whole  nature  of  the  animal  seems  changed.  He 
turns  upon  his  pursuers,  and  death  it  is  to  him  who  ever  falls 
into  his  power.  Not  satisfied  with  goring  his  victim  until  he  is 
a  mangled  mass,  he  frequently  plunges  upon  the  remains  until 
mashed  into  a  perfect  jelly.  The  vital  spot  in  a  buffalo  is  im 
mediately  under  the  shoulder,  penetrating  the  heart  or  the  lights. 
On  the  forehead  the  bullet  of  the  most  powerful  rifle  has  no 
effect  whatever,  the  force  being  entirely  expended  on  the  im 
mense  mat  or  "  mop "  of  hair,  eight  or  ten  inches  in  length, 
between  the  eyes. 

After  our  somewhat  exciting  battle,  taking  a  last  look,  and  I 
must  say  I  felt  a  pang  of  shame  as  I  left  the  inanimate  carcass 
a  useless  waste,  we  hastened  back  to  the  train  which  was  ready 
to  move  on  and  had  been  signaling  us  for  some  minutes. 

For  sixty  miles  the  same  great  multitudes  of  buffaloes  ap 
peared  in  sight  without  signs  of  diminution  in  numbers.  Beyond 
this,  as  we  approached  Sheridan  station,  the  herds  grew  less  in 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  41 

size  and  more  isolated  until  they  disappeared  from  view.  I 
computed,  during  the  entire  day  there  were  in  sight  from  the 
train,  not  less  than  two  hundred  thousand  animals  of  all  ages. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  the  end  of  steam 
travel  on  the  Kansas  Pacific  railway.  The  end  of  the  track 
presented  all  the  appearance  of  work  very  abruptly  terminated. 
At  the  very  extreme  point  was  a  plain  wooden  mile-post  painted 
white,  with  the  characters  "  405  to  S.  L ,"  405  miles  to  the 
State  Line,  that  is  of  Kansas,  at  Kansas  city  The  objective 
point  of  the  road,  contemplated  in  the  law,  is  the  Pacific  ocean 
with  a  branch  to  Denver.  The  Pacific  is  to  be  reached  by  a 
more  southerly  route  passing  through  Alburquerque,  New  Mex 
ico,  Southern  Arizona,  into  Southern  California.  The  length 
of  the  road  from  its  initial  point  will  be  over  two  thousand  miles. 


42  SHERIDAN'S 


CHAPTER  VII. 

A  NIGHT  IN  A  FRONTIER  TOWN — POPULAR  DIVERSIONS  AND  PRIMITIVE  JUSTICE. 

WING  to  the  dangers  of  travel  on  the  lines  of  com 
munication  with  points  farther  west,  I  found  myself 
booked  for  the  night  at  Sheridan.  The  Santa  Fe 
coach  was  announced  to  leave  the  following  morning. 
The  prospect  was  anything  but  agreeable.  I  was, 
however,  fortunate  enough  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  Colonel 
Stone,  the  agent  of  the  coach  line,  and  enjoyed  in  his  company 
quite  an  interesting  evening.  Colonel  Stone  (how  he  got  his 
title  I  did  not  learn)  was  a  man  of  tall,  sinewy  form,  and, 
judging  from  a  half-hand  which  he  displayed  every  now  and 
then,  seemed  to  be  a  character  after  the  true  style  of  the  country. 
According  to  his  account,  he  had  experienced  all  the  "  ups  and 
downs  "of  frontier  life,  and,  though  he  got  through  with  his 
life,  he  bore  off  numerous  scars  and  other  souvenirs  of  his 
eventful  career. 

Among  the  wonders  of  Sheridan  then  on  exhibition,  were  the 
remains  of  a  saurian  animal  discovered  near  the  town  by  a 
Swiss  watch-maker  named  Brandt.  Most  of  the  bones  of  the 
monster,  in  a  fine  state  of  preservation  by  means  of  petrefaction, 
were  in  the  possession  of  the  Swiss.  For  the  convenience  of 
the  curious,  the  remains  were  arranged  on  a  table  in  the  rear 
of  his  shop.  The  reptile  measured,  when  alive,  at  least  forty- 
five  feet  in  length — the  Swiss  insisted  upon  one  hundred  and 
forty-five  feet  I  The  lower  jaw  must  have  been  over  four  feet 
in  length,  and  the  teeth,  some  of  which  were  very  well  preserved, 
were  perfect  cones  in  shape — the  largest  about  an  inch  and  a 
half  in  height  and  one  inch  in  diameter  at  the  base.  Several 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  43 

of  the  ribs,  apparently  perfect,  were  about  eighteen  inches  in 
length.  Several  sections  of  the  vertebra  measured  seven  inches 
in  diameter.  The  reptile  was  found  in  a  canon  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  town.  It  was  lying  near  the  surface, 
with  a  portion  exposed.  According  to  the  Swiss's  description, 
the  monster  was  moving  across  the  canon  at  the  time  of  its 
death,  and  lay  with  its  head  on  one  side  and  its  tail  on  the 
other,  while  in  the  centre  a  space  of  several  feet  was  washed 
away.  The  country  around  Sheridan  I  found  wonderfully  pro 
lific  in  petrefactions  of  all  kinds.  The  rocks  which  appeared 
upon  the  surface  were  frequently  rather  remarkable,  presenting 
a  variety  of  marine  shells.  There  was  no  doubt  in  my  mind, 
from  the  numerous  exhibitions  of  submarine  formations,  that, 
at  some  remote  period,  the  entire  country  formed  the  bed  of  a 
vast  inland  sea. 

Sheridan  compared  very  favorably  with  other  plains  towns. 
It  contained  a  population  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls,  and 
from  accounts  all  were  desperate  characters.  After  the  sus 
pension  of  work  on  the  railroad,  the  population,  which  at  one 
time  was  much  larger,  suddenly  diminished.  Frequently  the 
citizens  were  put  to  great  straits  to  secure  a  maintenance. 
Many  lived  by  poisoning  wolves  and  selling  the  skins,  for 
which  they  realized  a  dollar,  or  a  dollar  and  a  half,  each,  ac 
cording  to  size.  It  was  hardly  the  proper  season  for  this  work, 
although  parties  were  engaged  in  it,  and  found  no  difficulty 
in  disposing  of  their  stock.  I  was  told  by  one  person  that 
in  the  winter  he  could  make  from  seventy-five  to  a  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  per  month  out  of  the  wolf  skins  he  could 
secure.  The  wolf  family  is  rather  large  on  the  plains,  and  a 
liberal  application  of  strychnine  evidently  would  not  be  seriously 
felt  for  some  time  to  come. 

Ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  I  discovered  was  the  regular  hour 
for  the  public  entertainments  to  begin,  which  consisted  of  a 
skirmish  with  pistols,  or  a  series  of  pugilistic  encounters,  in 
which  it  rarely  happened  that  both  parties  come  off  with  their 
lives,  or  at  least  without  receiving  a  damaging  and  indelible 


44  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

remembrance  of  the  contest.  I  had  already  heard  fearful  stories 
of  the  "  quiet  and  orderly"  town  of  Sheridan,  and,  as  much  as 
possible,  kept  clear  of  the  streets  from  fear  of  some  stray  pistol 
ball,  by  mistake,  finding  a  lodgment  in  my  own  person. 

The  week  before,  the  Sheridanites,  according  to  their  own 
accounts,  had  had  "a  beautiful  time."  During  that  week  six 
men  had  been  shot  in  drunken  brawls.  On  the  Sabbath  night 
the  honor  of  two  more  specimens  was  brought  into  antagonism 
over  the  flowing  bowl.  Pistols  were  produced,  and  the  "  popu 
lar  tragedy"  opened.  One  was  mortally  wounded.  The 
other  set  out  with  a  view  to  escape.  He  was  closely  pursued. 
The  pursuers  fired  repeatedly,  which  was  responded  to  by  the 
fugitive.  After  a  lively  chase  and  considerable  firing  the  pur 
sued  was  overtaken.  He  fought  desperately,  but  without  avail. 
A  rope  was  procured ;  one  end  was  fastened  around  the  victim's 
neck,  the  other  to  a  cross-tie  in  the  tressel  railroad  bridge  at 
the  town.  The  victim  was  then  forcibly  ejected  between  the 
ties  into  space  below,  and  was  there  left  to  shuffle  off  this 
mortal  coil ;  which  was  more  readily  done  than  to  shuffle  off 
the  coil  which  had  been  prepared  for  him  by  his  peculiarly 
justice-loving  fellow-citizens. 

The  business  of  Sheridan  was  monopolized,  almost  exclusively, 
by  that  enterprising,  homeless  race,  the  Jews.  The  universality 
of  enterprise  of  these  modern  representatives  of  that  ancient 
and  numerous  family  circle  is  probably  more  completely  illus 
trated  upon  the  plains  than  any  where  else.  It  would  seem, 
from  their  appearance,  manner,  and  want  of  knowledge  of  the 
language,  that  it  was  only  the  new  importations  from  Germany, 
particularly,  who  constituted  the  specimens  sent  out.  It  was 
the  rare  exception  to  find  an  Americanized  member  of  the 
family  exposing  himself  to  the  dangers  of  a  scalpless  pate,  or 
to  the  discomforts  and  isolation  of  frontier  society.  How  they 
managed  to  subsist  was  a  mercantile  problem  which  I  could  not 
penetrate  nor  unravel.  The  favorite  branch  of  business  to 
which  they  devoted  their  attention  was  the  sale  of  clothing  and 
cheap  notions,  and  generally  had  a  stock  equal  to  the  emergent 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  4t 

cies  of  a  community  of  ten  times  the  gross  invoice  of  that  which 
really  existed.  If  any  Indians,  of  a  friendly  band,  happened 
near  at  hand  they  drove  a  fair  trade  by  bartering  their  cheap 
commodities  at  high  rates  for  skins  at  low  rates.  These  pio 
neers  of  business  were,  generally,  the  representatives  of  large 
establishments  in  the  east,  and  were  evidently  set  up  in  trade 
by  advancing  a  supply  of  goods  on  easy  terms,  and  were  sent 
out  into  the  remote  regions  of  the  plains  to  "  cut  their  eye-teeth," 
and  otherwise  show  themselves  meriting  the  reward  of  increased 
confidence.  ^}'\ 

At  the  time  of  my  visit,  Sheridan  was  in  a  state  of  siege. 
Several  days  before,  a  large  war-party  of  savages  had  appeared 
upon  two  buttes  near  the  town  and  opened  fire  upon  the  inhab 
itants.  Everybody  rushed  to  arms,  and  for  the  larger  part  of 
the  day  a  spirited  fusilade  was  kept  up.  The  people  of  the 
place  at  once  organized  a  regul^*  corps  of  defenders,  and  de 
tachments  were  on  thd  watch  (fey  and  night.  On  the  more 
prominent  eminences  pickets  were  posted  to  signal  the  approach 
of  war-parties.  At  night  the  guard  was  doubled  so  as  to  com 
pletely  encircle  the  town^ 

The  first  thing  upon  my  arrival  I  negotiated  for  quarters  at 
the  "hotel."  There  being  but  one  in  the  place,  the  choice  was 
not  difficult.  At  tTed-time  I  was  escorted  to  a  small  enclosure 
immediately  over  the  bar-room.  Tne  establishment  below  was 
of  that  enterprising  character  that  kept  no  count  of  time.  Du 
ring  the  entire  night  I  enjoyed,  quietly,  not  only  one  of  those 
phases  in  human  life  which  is  to  be  found  no  where  else  but  in 
the  bar-room,  but  also  a  vivifying  anxiety  aud  trepidation  in 
anticipation  of  a  pistol  ball  or  two  finding  its  way  through  the 
thin  floor  into  my  bed.  This  sort  of  bed-i'ellow  I  certainly  had 
no  desire  to  cultivate.  In  the  midst  of  all  the  frontier  slang, 
crudely-fashioned  oaths,  and  unpolished  vulgarities  inspired  by 
oft-repeated  charges  of  "  chain  lightning,"  which  electrified  the 
boisterous  crowd  below,  my  attemps  at  slumber  were  anything 
but  satisfactory. 


4$  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

07F  FOR  PORT  WALLACE— PARTING  CIVILITIES — INTERESTING  REMINISCENCES-- 
"  WHAT'S  THE  NEWS  ?" — ARRIVAL. 

T  an  early  hour  on  the  following  morning,  an  unusual 
din  .below  suggested  that  the  day's  duties  had  com 
menced,  a  routine  invariably  inaugurated  with  cock 
tails  "  all  around."     A  voice  from  the  foot  of  the  stairs 
proclaimed  "  breakfast — ye  better  be  dusting  up  thar — 
stage — Santa  Fe — time  up."     These  incongruous  observations 
were  instantly  obeyed,  and  in  very  few  minutes  the  lodgers 
dropped  down  stairs  with  a  rush. 

By  the  time  we  had  "  tossed  "  in  a  breakfast,  composed  of 
half-cooked  meat,  as  tough  as  India  rubber,  and  boiled  potatoes 
as  hard  as  bullets,  the  announcement  was  made  that  the  "  stage  " 
was  ready  to  get  off.  There  were  three  passengers  besides  my 
self — a  government  land  surveyor,  a  Pennsylvanian,  traveling 
without  any  special  object,  a  delightful  recreation,  indeed,  in 
such  a  country,  and  a  Jew.  On  account  of  hostilities  I  found 
that  the  daily  line  had  been  abandoned  and  two  coaches  were 
run  together  on  alternate  days,  one  for  passengers  and  the  other 
for  a  military  guard,  freight,  and  the  mails.  The  time  of  de 
parture  having  arrived,  the  baggage  and  mails  were  stowed 
away  in  the  boot  and  on  the  driver's  box  of  the  first  coach. 
With  pistols  and  rifles,  my  fellow-passengers  and  myself  took 
possession  of  the  interior  of  the  same  vehicle.  The  second  coach 
carried  the  heavier  packages  and  the  guard,  consisting  of  six 
"  brunette "  soldiers.  The  coaches  were  modeled  after  the 
American  pattern,  and  were  each  drawn  by  four  horses.  The 
inside  accommodations  were  for  six  persons  on  two  seats.  Both 
coaches  were  painted  red,  and  in  a  bold  and  artistic  display  of 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  47 

white  paint  were  portrayed  the  words  "  Overland  Stage  Com- 
pany,  Santa  Fe." 

As  soon  as  the  driver  mounted  the  box,  there  began  a  series 
of  equine  quadrilles,  swingle-tree,  and  bar  exercises,  with  an 
enlivening  admixture  of  feathery  and  fantastic  aerial  perform 
ances  of  the  nether  hoofs.  The  driver  with  great  ceremony 
from  his  seat,  bade  "  good-bye  "  to  all  the  crowd  of  persons  who 
had  gathered  around,  probably  having  in  his  mind,  not  only  the 
usual  interchange  of  courtesies,  but  the  uncertainties  of  stage- 
driving  in  that  exciting  country.  He  evidently  felt  relieved 
after  complying  with  this  last  act  of  friendship,  and  seemed  to 
feel  little  anxiety  as  to  whether  he  should  ever  greet  the  familiar 
and  expectant  faces  awaiting  him  at  the  other  extremity  of  his 
perilous  journey.  The  silent  and  lamb-like  passengers  within 
the  coach  were  seriously  disconcerted  at  the  cool  formality.  It 
shivered  four  frames  with  dreadful  visions  of  reeking  scalping 
knives,  tomahawks,  spears,  and  all  sorts  of  implements  of  sav 
age  greeting  on  the  plains.  The  conversation  immediately 
turned  upon  the  latest  barbarities,  with  refreshing  details.  The 
government  surveyor,  who  "  had  been  on  the  plains  before," 
was  the  oracle  and  cyclopedia  of  information  combined.  He 
graphically  narrated  a  few  of  the  peculiar  customs  of  the  wild 
tribes,  for  instance,  the  Apaches,  when  they  took  a  prisoner 
tied  him  up  to  a  tree  by  the  heels  and  built  a  slow  fire  under 
his  head,  in  which  tedious  manner  the  fires  of  life  were  choked, 
smoked,  and  burnt  out.  He  also  stated,  that  generally  the 
women,  probably  under  the  direction  of  one  of  that  love- 
sighing,  poetized  maiden  class,  did  the  torturing,  such  as  throw 
ing  spears,  and  shooting  arrows  into  the  carcases  of  their 
victims  and  otherwise  entertained  them,  while  the  warriors 
sat  around  and  admired  the  ingenuity  of  the  partners  of  their 
wigwams.  It  was  not  with  sentiments  of  the  highest  appre 
ciation  that  these  illustrations  of  savage  customs  were  con 
templated.  The  portable  arsenal  which  each  one  of  our  party 
represented,  was  re-examined  and  suggestions  were  interchanged 
a»  to  the  beat  mode  of  defence.  Each  one  made  up  his  mind 


48  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

* 

precisely  what  he  would  do  in  event  of  attack,  all  of  which  wera 
human  impossibilities. 

While  this  serious  and  contemplative  state  of  affairs  existed 
inside  the  coach,  the  driver  on  the  outside  preserved  his  out 
ward  hilarity.  Whether  the  same  feelings  penetrated  his  inte 
rior,  could  not  he  detected.  These  brave,  reckless,"  rollicking 
men,  so  inured  to  every  danger,  accept  the  situation  philo 
sophically,  and  instead  of  consuming  the  peace  of  mind  in  end 
less  anxiety,  look  confidently  upon  the  future.  The  moment 
of  actual  danger  is  sufficient  for  them.  The  past  is  forgotten, 
the  present  is  their  immediate  concern.  The  future  beams  full 
of  hope.  They  live  the  philosopher,  and  meet  their  often  fear 
ful  fate  under  the  same  rigid  teaching  which  the  severe  lessons 
of  their  lives  afford  them. 

Whack !  whack !  the  huge  strip  of  "  raw-hide  "  used  as  a 
whip,  descended  upon  the  impatient  and  expectant  quadrupeds, 
literally  "  making  the  fur  fly."  Hi  1  hi !  ejaculated  the  driver, 
who  was  responded  to  with  fit  vocal  demonstrations  by  the 
citizens,  by  way  of  a  parting  and  enthusiastic  pereoration.  The 
uproar,  as  well  as  the  smarting  influence  of  the  lash,  was  elec 
tric.  The  animals  set  off  with  a  bound.  The  sudden  impetus 
of  the  start  was  met  by  an  adverse  motion,  causing  the  occu 
pants  of  the  front  seats  inside  to  lose  thdr  equilibrium  and  the 
whole  contents  of  the  coach  were  suddenly  deposited  with  con 
siderable  emphasis  towards  the  rear.  .  The  horses  dashed  wildly 
out  of  the  town,  accomplishing  that  feat  literally  in  about  four 
jumps  and  in  a  few  moments  were  ascending  the  gradually 
rising  plain  in  the  direction  of  the  Smoky  Hill. 

Having  exhausted  our  powers  of  imagination  in  portraying 
for  our  own  benefit  and  mental  preparation  for  emergencies,  such 
lively  pictures  of  the  hazards  of  "  staging  it "  in  the  savage 
countries,  the  least  we  expected  was  a  distant  view  of  the  noble 
warrior  of  the  plain,  say  upon  some  remote  swell  in  the  vast 
expanse,  from  which  stand-point  he  was  known  to  possess  many 
features  for  interesting  and  vigilant  observation.  Such,  how 
ever,  was  not  our  fortune.  The  horses  galloped  along  at  a 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  49 

lively  gait.  The  coaches  or  "prairie  clippers,"  as  tb?y  are 
called  by  the  denizens  of  the  country,  pitched  and  jolted.  The 
broad  plain  spread  around.  Not  a  sign  of  life  was  visible.  But 
two  days  before  the  trail  was  watched  by  a  large  party  of  lark 
ing  warriors.  The  eye  now  wandered  to  the  utmost  limits  of 
vision  in  vain.  Alarmed  at  the  activity  of  the  troops,  the  war 
parties  had  evidently  withdrawn  to  a  safer  distance,  thus  dissi 
pating  our  anticipations  of  a  cordial  and  warm  reception  into 
the  "  wild  country." 

The  arrival  of  the  coach  at  the  fort  was  the  occasion  of  a 
general  turn-out  of  the  officers  of  the  garrison.  The  firat  in 
quiry  was  after  the  mail  and  while  that  was  being  assorted,  in 
the  sutler's  store,  a  group  assembled  around  asking  after  eveiy 
item  of  news  from  Sheridan,  as  if  that  enterprising  "  city  "  were 
in  the  heart  of  business,  trade,  and  fashion.  Fortified  with  a 
'etter  of  introduction  from  General  Sheridan  to  Colonel  Bank- 
nead,  commandant,  at  the  earliest  moment  I  singled  out  that 
gentleman  and  presented  the  document. 

Fort  Wallace  resembled  Fort  Hays  in  design,  but  was  greatly 
inferior  in  construction.  The  site  occupied  a  swell  in  the  plain, 
which  gave  it  a  commanding  view  of  the  country  for  miles  in 
every  direction.  It  was  exclusively  a  military  post.  Several 
companies  of  infantry  and  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Carpenter,  constituted  the  garrison.  The  nearest 
settlement  was  Pond  City,  quite  an  extravagant  appellation  for 
a  relay  station  with  a  community  of  about  a  half  a  dozen  semi- 
barbarous  inhabitants.  Exclusive  of  this  frontier  emporium  and 
Sheridan,  about  fifteen  miles  distant,  there  was  not  a  settlement 
within  a  hundred  miles  of  the  fort. 

As  may  be  imagined,  the  arrival  of  a  stranger,  and  particu 
larly  a  visitor  so  recently  from  "the  States,"  was  a  rare  and 
important  event  in  the  daily  routine  of  the  garrison.  It  was, 
therefore,  not  many  moments  before  the  writer  found  himself, 
and  most  readily  too,  the  target  of  a  diversity  of  interrogatories 
embracing  a  bewildering  range  of  topics. 


SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  IX, 

FORSYTE'S  BATTLE  OF  THE  ARRICKAREE  PORK. 

T  Fort  Hays  having  learned  that  the  scouts,  who  had 
fought  the  savages  on  the  Arrickaree,  had  returned 
to  Fort  Wallace,  the  time  of  my  visit  to  that  post 
was  hastened.  As  soon  as  the  civilities  incident  to 
my  arrival  were  over,  I  seized  the  earliest  moment 
to  mingle  with  the  scouts  in  their  own  camp,  and  at  his  own 
request  afterwards,  met  their  brave  commander  in  the  hospital. 
From  the  scouts  themselves  I  learned  the  following  particulars 
of  this  brilliant  and  heroic  achievement ;  I  allude  to  it,  somewhat 
in  detail,  because  it  is  a  sample  of  the  ill-requited,  but  desperate 
character  of  warfare  on  the  plains. 

During  the  latter  part  of  August,  1868,  General  Sheridau 
authorized  the  organization  of  a  body  of  scouts,  for  the  purpose 
of  making  a  thorough  reconnoissance  of  the  country  towards 
the  north,  between  the  Republican  and  the  Smoky  Hill  rivers, 
in  order  to  discover  the  movements  of  the  savages  who  had 
committed  the  depredations  on  the  Solomon  and  the  Saline. 
Forty  seven  picked  frontiersmen  were  found  willing  to  under 
take  the  hazardous  mission.  Colonel  Forsyth,  and  Lieutenant 
Beecher,  of  the  3d  infantry,  were  assigned  to  command,  and 
Dr.  Moers  attended  the  party  as  surgeon.  A  body  of  men  had 
never  assembled  better  adapted  to  the  work.  The  majority 
were  old  plain's  men,  accustomed  to  every  hardship  and  "  dead 
shots  "  with  the  rifle.  The  party  set  out  from  Fort  Hays  moving 
towards  the  Solomon,  and  scouting  westward,  brought  up  at 
Fort  Wallace.  This  preliminary  movement  was  without  inci 
dent  worthy  of  note. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  51 

After  refitting  at  Fort  Wallace,  on  September  10,  the  expedi 
tion  set  out  once  more.  Two  days  after,  a  small  war-party  of 
Indians  was  discovered  but  was  not  considered  worth  pursuing. 
Three  days  more  were  consumed  in  reaching  the  Republican, 
and  following  its  winding  course  until  arriving  at  the  Delaware 
or  Arrickaree  Fork.  During  this  time  but  few  savages  were 
seen,  though  the  indications  of  the  recent  presence  of  large  num 
bers  were  unmistakable. 

At  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  September  17,  before  the 
scouts  had  saddled  their  horses,  shouts  of  Indians  1  Indians ! 
were  given.  An  advanced  party  of  twelve  savages  dashed 
towards  the  ecouts  yelling  fiercely,  firing  and  waving  their  blan 
kets,  in  hopes  of  stampeding  the  animals.  Seven  horses  made 
their  escape  and  were  taken.  The  rest  were  seized  and,  with 
great  difficulty,  prevented  from  getting  away.  After  brisk  firing 
the  attacking  party  was  driven  off.  Orders  were  then  given  to 
saddle  and  mount,  but  before  the  command  could  be  complied 
with  the  country,  in  the  vicinity,  literally  swarmed  with  war 
riors.  From  their  trappings,  they  were  discovered  to  be  Chey- 
enues,  Arrapahoes  and  Sioux. 

The  position  occupied  by  the  scouts  was  greatly  exposed. 
The  valley  in  which  they  stood  was  covered  with  high  grass, 
under  protection  of  which  the  Indian  sharp-shooters,  with  com 
parative  safety  were  enabled  to  approach  within  easy  range 
The  scouts,  therefore,  fell  back  and  took  position  on  a  small 
island  in  the  stream  near  by.  The  new  ground  had  the  advan 
tage  of  an  open  space  for  some  distance  on  all  sides.  Closely^ 
pressed,  in  making  this  movement,  they  were  compelled  to  aban 
don  what  few  supplies  they  had  left,  and  also  their  medicines. 

Upon  reaching  the  island,  the  men  tied  their  horses  to  a  few 
stunted  trees,  and  immediately  prepared  for  action.  The  sav 
ages  finding  themselves  foiled  in  what  they  evidently  relished 
as  an  easy  capture  of  their  prey,  were  mad  with  rage.  Over 
two  hundred  of  their  number  were  dismounted  to  act  as  sharp 
shooters,  while  five  hundred  of  their  bravest  warriors  remained 
in  the  saddle  and  prepared  to  charge.  The  mounted  savages 


52  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

disrobed  themselves  of  all  useless  trappings.  With  faces,  be 
daubed  with  war  paint,  bodies  bare  to  the  waist,  with  shields, 
bows,  arrows,  spears,  rifles  and  pistols,  flourishing  in  the  air, 
they  presented  a  fearful  scene  for  the  contemplation  of  the 
beleaguered  party. 

The  old  war-chief  addressed  his  warriors.  The  "big  medi 
cine  "  man  galloped  up  and  down  in  front  beating  his  drum  and 
exclaiming  "the  white  man's  bullets  will  melt  before  you." 
The  women  and  children  gathered  on  the  hills  around  to  see 
their  people  scalp  the  pale  face.  Some  danced*  and  shouted, 
others  pressed  closely  upon  the  rear  of  the  warriors,  determined 
to  follow  and  share  with  them  their  bloody  work. 

These  were  breathless  moments  on  the  island.  The  day  was 
bright  and  cheerful.  The  savage  warriors  were  seen  upon  the. 
plain  making  their  final  dispositions  preparatory  to  an  attack. 

It  was  now  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  A  few  desultory 
shots  had  been  fired.  The  women  could  be  heard  chanting 
their  songs  of  victory.  The  old  men  narrated  the  deeds  of 
their  forefather's  to  excite  the  emulation  of  the  young.  The 
medicine  man  shouted  and  beat  his  drum. 

The  war-chief  with  all  the  dignity  of  command,  now  waved 
his  weapons,  and  gave  the  fierce  war-whoop.  With  one  respon 
sive  yell  the  warriors  dashed  across  the  plain.  On  the  island 
all  was  quiet.  Each  man  held  his  weapon  firmly  and  calmly 
for  a  desperate  defence.  With  yells,  and  violent  gestures,  oil 
came  the  surging  savage  hords.  As  the  advanced  line  plunged 
within  range,  the  quick  rifles  of  the  scouts  greeted  them.  Sud 
denly  a  wall  of  fire  rose  to  check  the  tide.  Many  a  warrior 
bit  the  dust.  The  savage  front  quivered,  for  a  moment  it  hesi 
tated.  Every  instant  was  in  favor  of  the  scouts.  Their  fire 
grew  more  rapid  and  their  aim  steadier  and  more  deadly.  As 
tounded  at  the  opposition  the  savage  line  halted,  and  the  next 
moment  was  sent  reeling  back  out  of  range.  Within  ten  feet 
of  the  position  of  the  scouts  were  several  bodies  of  the  "  red 
skins,"  either  lifeless  or  writhing  in  the  agonies  of  death,  while 
others  were  being  dragged  off  by  their  fellow-warriors. 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  53 

The  scouts  also  suffered.  The  first  one  of  the  party  hit  was 
Forsyth,  the  ball  lodging  in  the  upper  part  of  the  leg.  A 
second  ball  struck  him  in  the  calf  of  the  left  leg,  fracturing 
the  bone  about  the  centre,  and  passing  out  in  front.  At  the 
same  time  Beecher  received  a  ball  in  the  side,  which  passing 
through  the  body,  fractured  the  spine,  proving  mortal.  Dr. 
Moers  was  shot  in  the  head  and  died  three  days  afterwards. 

All  the  officers  were  now  either  killed  or  wounded.  The 
savages,  undaunted  at  the  warm  reception  they  had  received, 
were  evidently  resolved  to  try  another  attack.  Notwithstanding 
his  wounds  Forsyth  continued  in  command,  giving  his  orders 
through  his  trusty  chief  of  scouts,  Grover,  or  "sharp  Grover," 
as  he  was  designated  by  his  comrades.  Grover  was  just  the 
man  for  the  desperate  emergency. 

The  lull  in  the  conflict  was  improved  by  digging  rifle  pits, 
which  was  accomplished  with  sheath  and  jack-knives.  Grover 
enlarged  the  area  of  his  pit,  so  as  to  afford  protection  for  his 
commander. 

The  savages  were  ready  to  attack  a  second  time.  The  chief, 
with  a  bearing  of  command,  and  in  a  voice  of  authority,  ad 
dressed  his  people.  "  Young  warriors,  we  are  many  and  the 
whites  are  few.  The  white  bullets  are  wasted.  Once  more 
and  we  bring  the  whitejman's  scalp  to  our  fires." 

The  warriors  yelled  assent.  Grover,  understanding  the  chiefs 
language,  took  an  opportunity  to  respond  to  the  royal  savage. 
At  the  top  of  his  voice  he  shouted,  "  Hello,  old  feller,  got  any 
more  people  to  kill  ?  This  is  pretty  tough,  ain't  it  ?"  The 
surprised  chief  involuntarily  shouted  back,  "  you  speak  right 
straight." 

Just  before  noon  the  Indians  made  their  second  attack.  The 
scouts,  better  protected,  took  cooler  aim.  The  Indian  line 
again  reeled  and  fell  back.  Immediately  a  renewed  effort  was 
made  but  was  again  unsuccessful.  In  these  attacks  two  of  the 
scouts  were  killed. 

Failing  to  accomplish  their  purpose  the  warriors  opened  fire 
upon  the  horses  tied  to  the  trees.  After  a  considerable  con- 


54  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

sumption  of  ammunition,  the  death  of  the  last  animal  was  an 
nounced  by  a  young  warrior,  who  sprung  from  behind  a  hunch 
of  grass  about  a  hundred  yards  distant,  exclaiming  in  good 
American,  "  there,  the  last  d d  horse  is  shot." 

Between  ten  and  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  savages 
again  attacked,  but  in  their  own  mode  of  fighting,  by  circling 
around  the  scouts,  indulging  in  bravado,  and  gesticulating  vio 
lently.  This  was  the  last  regular  attempt  of  the  day. 

Forsyte  now  found  his  condition  to  be  anything  but  cheering. 
Himself  disabled,  his  lieutenant  dead,  his  surgeon  barely  alive, 
three  men  killed  and  fifteen  wounded,  all  this  out  of  an  aggre 
gate  of  fifty.  The  savages  were  still  besieging  him.  His  horses 
were  killed  and  his  command  was  almost  out  of  food.  It  was 
necessary,  at  all  hazards,  to  notify  the  troops  at  Fort  Wallace 
of  his  condition.  Two  daring  young  men,  Stillwell  and  Trud- 
dell,  volunteered  for  the  dangerous  mission.  With  their  trusty 
rifles  in  hand  and  a  scanty  supply  of  food,  the  messengers  dis 
appeared  in  the  darkness  of  night.  In  their  success  rested  the 
only  hope  of  escape.  As  they  were  departing,  borne  upon  the 
still  air,  were  sounds  of  woe  from  the  savage  camp.  The  songa 
of  victory  in  the  morning  were  now  turned  to  the  sorrowing 
tones  of  wailing.  The  dead  were  receiving  the  last  offices  of 
the  living,  and  the  wounded,  in  their  moments  of  agony  and 
death,  heaped  imprecations  upon  their  pale-faced  enemy. 

Early  the  next  morning  a  party  of  savages  dashed  upon  the 
island,  probably  imagining  the  scouts  had  left.  A  well-directed 
volley,  not  only  changed  the  direction  of  their  gallopade,  but 
two  warriors  were  brought  to  the  ground  as  a  punishment  for 
their  temerity. 

No  regular  attack  was  made  during  the  day,  which  gave  the 
scouts  an  opportunity  to  sink  wells  and  make  other  prepara 
tions  to  sustain  a  siege.  The  most  alarming  danger  which  now 
made  itself  felt  was  the  scarcity  of  food. 

On  the  third  day  a  war  party  was  seen  stealthily  peeping 
over  the  hills,  evidently  looking  for  a  chance  to  make  a  dash. 
On  the  same  afternoon,  twenty-five  warriors  approached,  bear- 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  55 

ing  a  white  flag.  The  scouts  motioned  to  them  to  keep  off. 
Forsyth  remarked,  "  tell  them  this  is  no  peace  commission,  shoot 
the  first  red  devil  who  comes  within  range."  Three  dead  bodies 
of  their  warriors  were  lying  on  the  island.  It  was  supposed 
the  object  of  the  party  with  the  flag  was  to  secure  them,  but 
Indian  treachery  was  too  well  known.  The  savages  retired. 

It  was  now  evident  the  Indians  had  no  disposition  to  renew 
the  conflict.  A  few  of  the  scouts  visited  the  old  camping-ground. 
Several  camp  kettles  were  found  and  brought  in,  with  some  grains 
of  coffee  picked  out  of  the  sand.  Fires  were  made  out  of  the 
Indian  arrows  gathered  in  the  vicinity  and  on  the  island.  A 
refreshing  but  scant  allowance  of  coffee  was  distributed  among 
the  wounded,  which  seemed  to  revive  their  energy  and  gave 
them  a  new  lease  of  strength  to  endure  their  privations  and  suf 
ferings.  Fires  were  built  in  the  trenches,  and  large  quantities 
of  horse-flesh,  cut  from  the  dead  animals  were  jerked,  after  the 
fashion  of  the  Indians,  thus  affording  a  supply  for  at  least  sev 
eral  days.  Graves  were  dug  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead  were 
gathered  for  interment.  No  martial  note,  no  tread  of  sorrowing 
comrades,  no  religious  form,  marked  this  closing  scene  of  mor 
tality.  The  wolfs  low  howl  and  the  sighing  north  wind  alone 
sings  their  requiem.* 

From  these  sad  and  rude  rites  of  burial,  the  living  turned  to 
thoughts  of  self.  The  same  night  two  more  messengers,  Dono 
van  and  Plyly,  were  sent  to  seek  relief. 

Four  long  and  weary  days  had  passed.  A  small  party  of 
warriors  remained  in  the  vicinity  watching  the  movements  of 
the  scouts,  the  main  body,  however,  had  departed.  The  well 
men,  relieved  of  the  constant  watching,  now  gave  some  attention 
to  the  wounded.  Their  injuries,  which  had  grown  very  painful, 
were  rudely  dressed.  Soup  was  made  out  of  horse-flesh.  Shel 
ters  were  constructed  protecting  them  from  the  heat,  damp,  and 
wind. 

*A  party  sent  out  from  Fort  Wallace  the  following  winter  to  bring  in 
the  bodies  returned,  having  been  unsuccessful.  The  graves  were  found 
but  no  signs  of  the  bodies,  the  savages  evidently  having  exhumed  them. 


56  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

On  the  sixth  day  the  wounds  of  the  men  began  to  show  more 
decided  and  alarming  signs  of  neglect.  Maggots  infested  them 
and  the  first  traces  of  gangrene  had  set  in.  To  multiply  the 
discomforts  of  their  situation,  the  entire  party  was  almost  over 
powered  by  the  intolerable  stench  created  by  the  decomposing 
bodies  of  the  dead  horses.  Their  supply  of  meat  was  nearly 
exhausted.  Under  these  trying  circumstances,  Forsyth  assem 
bled  his  men.  He  told  them  they  "knew  their  situation  as  well 
as  he.  There  were  those  who  were  helpless,  but  aid  must  not 
be  expected  too  soon.  It  might  be  difficult  for  the  messengers 
to  reach  the  fort,  or  there  might  be  some  delay  by  losing  their 
way.  Those  who  wished  to  go  should  do  so  and  leave  the  res. 
to  take  their  chances."  With  one  shout  the  men  resolved  tc 
stay,  and  if  all  hope  vanished  to  die  together. 

At  last  the  supply  of  jerked  horse-meat  was  exhausted  and 
the  chances  of  getting  more  were  gone.  By  this  time  the  car 
casses  of  the  animals  were  a  mass  of  corruption.  There  was 
no  alternative.  Strips  of  putrid  flesh  were  cut  and  eaten.  The 
effect  of  this  offensive  diet  was  nauseating  in  the  extreme.  An 
experiment  was  made  to  improve  the  unpalatable  flesh  with 
gun-powder,  but  without  avail.  The  men  allayed  only  their 
most  extreme  cravings  of  hunger,  trusting  still  that  succor 
might  reach  them  before  all  was  over. 

On  the  morning  of  September  25,  the  sun  rose  with  unusual 
splendor,  and  upon  its  bright  colors  seemed  to  play  the  brighter 
effulgence  of  the  ray  of  hope.  The  solitary  plain,  receding  in 
all  directions,  possessed  a  deeper  interest  than  ever  before, 
though  still  it  showed  no  signs  of  life,  and  presented  the  same 
monotonous  expanse  upon  which  the  heroic  band  had  gazed  for 
so  many  days.  Across  the  dim  and  indefinable  distances  which 
ewept  around  the  eye  often  wandered,  wondering  what  might 
be  the  revelations  of  the  next  moment.  Suddenly  several  dark 
figures  appeared  faintly  on  the  horizon.  The  objects  were 
moving.  The  question  was,  are  they  savages  or  the  messengers 
of  relief  ?  As  on  such  occasions  of  anxiety  and  suspense,  time 
wore  on  heavily ;  yet  every  moment  brought  the  sufferers  nearer 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  57 

to  the  realization  whether  this  was  their  $oom  or  their  escapa 
Over  an  hour  had  elapsed,  when  the  objects  were  distinctly 
defined  to  be  troops,  and  probably  the  relief  party.  The  strong 
set  up  a  shout  such  as  men  seldom  utter.  It  was  the  unburden 
ing  of  the  heart  of  the  weight  of  despair.  The  wounded  lifted 
their  fevered  forms  and  fixed  their  glaring  eyes  upon  the  now 
rapidly-approaching  succor,  and  in  their  delirium  involuntarily 
reiterated  the  acclamations  of  their  comrades. 

As  soon  as  the  scouts  made  a  signal  of  their  presence,  Car 
penter  and  Fitzgerald  and  the  scout  Donovan,  with  thirty  men, 
dashed  ahead  and  were  soon  in  the  midst  of  the  little  band 
whose  joy  and  relief  now  knew  no  bounds. 

The  day  following,  Bankhead  arrived  with  supplies,  while 
Brisbin,  with  a  detachment  of  the  second  cavalry,  arrived  ac 
cidentally  from  the  north. 

The  immediate  demands  of  hunger  were  allayed,  and  the 
injuries  of  the  wounded  received  a  primary  dressing.  Prepara 
tions  were  made  to  return  to  the  fort  at  once.  The  more 
severely  wounded  were  put  into  ambulances.  Those  slightly, 
together  with  the  well,  were  placed  in  wagons.  After  a  march 
of  several  days,  the  rescuers  and  the  rescued  arrived  at  Fort 
Wallace.  The  entire  loss  of  the  scouts,  including  Lieutenant 
Beecher  and  Dr.  Moers,  was  five  killed  and  fifteen  wounded. 
The  savages  lost  not  less  than  seventy -five  killed  and  wounded. 
The  bodies  of  five  Cheyenne  warriors  killed  were  found  by  the 
troops  on  their  way  to  the  relief. 


58  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  X. 

SHERIDAN  VISITS  FORT  WALLACE  —  A  "  NORTHER  "  —  RETURN  TO  FORT  HATS  — 

"  UNDERGROUND  MONITORS  "  —  A  RIDE  ON  A  COW  (BUFFALO)  CATCHER- 

VOLUNTEERS  CALLED  FOR—  INDIAN  GUIDES. 


warm  reception  which  greeted  Forsyth's  little  band 
on  the  tributaries  of  the  Republican,  had  the  effect 
of  increasing,  to  the  highest  degree,  the  determination 
of  the  Commanding  General  to  punish  the  refractory 
tribes,  not  only  to  convince  them  of  their  weakness 
when  brought  into  collision  with  the  strong  arm  of  the  govern 
ment,  but  to  reduce  them  to  such  a  condition  of  feebleness  and 
fear  that  they  would  see  the  folly  of  opposition  and  be  content 
to  remain  upon  their  reservations. 

Sheridan,  taking  a  practical  view  of  the  trouble,  advocated  a 
sound  thrashing  as  the  first  step  to  quieting  the  tribes  on  the 
war-path.  The  government  had  been  paying  large  annuities  in 
goods  and  granting  liberal  supplies  of  food,  as  bribes,  to  keep 
the  savages  at  peace.  At  the  same  time,  the  Indian  trader 
subject  to  no  responsibility,  sold  arms  and  ammunition.  In 
1867,  it  was  an  offence,  subject  to  trial  by  court  martial,  to  shoot 
an  Indian  under  any  circumstances.  The  savages  naturally 
grew  arrogant  and  insulting,  while  the  soldier,  under  the  rigid 
rules  of  discipline,  was  compelled  to  submit  to  his  humiliation. 
On  one  occasion  some  Indians  asked  for  rifles  and  powder  j 
they  were  told  they  could  have  neither,  as  they  would  "  shoot 
soldiers."  They  replied,  "no,  no,  me  no  usee  to  puff  soldiers, 
me  usee  kill  buffalo  heap  ;  me  chase  soldier  and  drive  way  with 
sticks."  Such  was  the  contempt  inspired  by  a  pacific  course. 
Sheridan's  control  of  affairs,  in  connection  with  the  new  out- 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  59 

break,  promised  activity,  summary  punishment,  and  a  conquered 
peace,  three  things  novel  in  the  history  of  our  Indian  wars. 

The  few  days  which  T  passed  at  Fort  Wallace  was  not  one 
of  the  most  unpleasant  experiences,  but  it  certainly  was  one 
which  I  would  not  court  as  a  steady  duty.  The  quarters  were 
small  and  well  ventilated  by  a  series  of  cracks,  and  other  open 
ings,  which  suggested  no  allowance  in  the  construction  for 
shrinkage.  About  a  dozen  officers,  and  three  ladies,  constituted 
the  society  of  the  post.  In  order  to  wile  away  the  dreary  hours 
off  duty,  all  sorts  of  recreations  were  invented.  Prolonged  con 
versations  upon  a  diversity  of  subjects,  together  with  a  sociable 
pull  at  the  garrison  pipe,  absorbed  more  regularly  and  more 
largely  that  daily  burden  called  time.  Books",  newspapers,  and 
occasional  letters,  were  a  pleasing  reserve.  Owing  to  the  hos 
tility  of  the  Indians,  the  manly  sport,  the  chase,  was  almost 
excluded  from  the  list  of  pastimes,  and  when  participated  in  by 
a  few  of  the  more  daring,  was  confined  within  a  very  limited 
radius,  the  fort  constituting  the  centre.  The  buffalo,  alarmed 
by  the  martial  demonstrations  constantly  invading  his  haunts, 
had  left  for  more  remote  and  secluded  localities,  leaving  only  a 
few  herds  of  timid  antelope,  and  an  abundance  of  sneaking 
wolves,  for  those  who  were  fond  of  hazarding  a  chase. 

A  military  fort  on  the  plains  suggests  very  forcibly  the  pecu 
liar  inspiration  of  a  ship  at  sea ;  isolation  within  and  desolation 
without.  The  same  rigid  enforcement  of  discipline  unremittingly 
exacted,  as  if  in  the  face  of  the  enemy.  The  commandant,  a 
sort  of  supreme  authority,  executive,  legislative,  and  judicial. 
All  the  forms  of  military  etiquette  observed.  The  flag  hoisted 
every  morning  at  sunrise  and  dropped  at  sunset,  attended  by 
the  same  roll  of  the  drum,  and  the  same  reverberations  of  the 
evening  gun.  A  furlough  or  brief  "leave"  was  one  of  those 
pleasures  in  anticipation,  which  seemed  to  compensate  for  the 
lack  of  other  mental  relief.  If  there  be  any  who  deserve  the 
sympathies  of  those  who  enjoy  comfortable  and  secure  homes 
in  the  settlements,  they  are  the  officers  and  soldiers  condemned 
to  the  isolation  of  duty  on  the  plains. 


50  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

During  my  stay  at  the  fort  I  had  an  opportunity  to  witness 
jne  of  those  atmospheric  demonstrations  peculiar  to  the  plains. 
It  was  one  of  those  windy  and  turbulent  conditions  of  the  ethe- 
rial  sea  called  "  northers,"  for  convenience,  probably,  as  they 
are  known  to  blow  at  various  times  from  all  directions.  Early 
in  the  evening  the  sky  blackened  up  as  if  about  to  deluge  the 
earth  with  a  storm  of  ink.  At  about  seven  o'clock  a  fearfnl 
roar  was  heard,  sounding  like  the  surf  beating  upon  a  rock- 
bound  shore.  There  was  about  as  much  stir  and  excitement 
in  the  garrison  as  might  be  expected  on  ship-board  on  a  sudden 
indication  of  a  squall.  Windows  were  fastened  down  and  doors 
barricaded.  In  a  few  moments  a  terrific  volume  of  wind  came 
thundering  up,  causing  the  frail  pine  dwellings,  occupied  by  the 
officers,  to  creak  and  sway  as  if  the  very  next  moment  would 
see  them  shivered  into  fragments.  The  wind  brought  with  it 
a  variety  of  waifs,  in  the  way  of  sticks  and  pebbles,  which  pelted 
against  the  sides  and  roofs  of  the  quarters  like  the  rattle  of 
musketry,  Clouds  of  fine  sand  filled  the  air,  almost  to  suffoca 
tion,  and  beat  into  the  buildings  through  the  most  diminutive 
apertures. 

The  next  morning,  the  force  of  the  storm,  which  had  now 
spent  itself,  was  discernable  in  a  variety  of  visible  exhibitions. 
Unroofed  sheds,  boards  scattered  in  every  direction,  tents  blown 
away,  a  battery  of  howitzers  forced  several  feet  from  their 
position,  ambulances  and  wagons  blown  some  distance  across 
the  parade  or  out  on  the  plain,  some  overturned  and  others  with 
their  covers  rent  into  shreds.  Indeed  it  took  the  garrison  sev 
eral  days  to  gather  up  the  debris  and  repair  damages. 

The  Commanding  General  having  arrived,  a  few  days  later, 
to  make  a  personal  inspection  of  the  buildings  and  garrison,  I 
took  the  opportunity  of  his  departure  to  return  to  fort  Hays. 
After  a  hasty  cup  of  coffee,  in  the  gray  of  the  morning,  in  an 
ambulance,  drawn  by  four  sprightly  mules,  and  followed  by  an 
escort  of  cavalry,  we  dashed  out  of  the  fort.  A  drive  of  two 
hours  brought  us  to  Sheridan,  where  a  special  train  was  in 
readiness. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  61 

On  the  return,  the  General  took  occasion  to  stop  at  several 
stations  to  examine  the  defences,  which  the  detachments  of 
colored  troops  distributed  along  the  railroad,  had  built  for  them 
selves,  and  in  which  they  had  displayed  wonderful  skill  and 
ingenuity.  These  defences  they  very  aptly  termed  "  under 
ground  monitors."  The  process  of  building  one  of  these  in 
genious  little  defensive  works  was  first  to  dig  a  hole  ten  feet 
square  or  more,  according  to  the  number  of  men  to  be  accom 
modated,  and  about  breast  deep.  The  soil,  being  very  compact, 
made  excellent  walls.  Upon  the  surface  a  sod  breast,  about 
eighteen  inches  thick  and  a  foot  high,  was  built  on  each  face 
of  the  square,  and  over  head  a  plank  roof  was  thrown,  covered 
with  a  thick  mass  of  earth,  rendering  the  top  bullet-proof.  In 
the  sod  walls  and  angles  a  number  of  loop-holes  were  cut, 
allowing  free  scope  for  firing  in  every  direction.  These  works 
were  reached  by  a  subterranean  passage,  with  the  entrance  as 
much  as  thirty  feet  distant.  Where  several  were  built  they 
were  connected  also  by  subterranean  passages. 

A  test  of  the  defensible  qualities  of  the  "  under-ground  mon 
itors  "  was  made  by  a  large  party  of  warriors  attacking  one 
occupied  by  five  soldiers.  The  savage  party  had  stumbled 
upon  the  "  monitor,"  and  approached  it  out  of  curiosity.  Their 
curiosity  was  considerably  disturbed  upon  being  received  with 
a  volley  of  bullets.  After  attempting  all  sorts  of  ruses  and 
expedients  to  dislodge  the  soldiers,  the  savages  left,  having 
suffered  a  loss  of  several  of  their  number.  This  single  experi 
ence  had  a  marvellous  effect,  eliciting  a  profound  arid  distant 
recognition  for  all  similar  contrivances. 

An  amusing  incident  is  mentioned,  in  which  the  invulnera 
bility  of  the  "  monitors  "  was  placed  in  a  very  dubious  light. 
One  day  all  except  the  look-out  had  retired  to  the  "  monitor," 
which  had  also  the  recommendation  of  affording  fine  protection 
from  the  intolerable  heat  of  the  sun.  The  men  were  lounging 
upon  bunks  which  they  had  constructed  within.  Quite  unex 
pectedly  a  huge  "  diamond  "  rattle-snake  made  his  appearance. 
The  entire  garrison  hastily  decamped.  The  hideous  old  serpent 


62  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

coiled  himself  on  the  ground  and  began  a  vigorous  presentation 
of  fangs.  The  late  occupants  were  now  on  the  outside  looking 
in  through  the  port-holes.  The  triumph  of  the  venomous  in 
truder  was  sh  )rt  lived.  The  men  opened  a  volley  from  without 
and  soon  disp  itched  him. 

The  "  monitor  "  had  achieved  such  a  popularity  that  it  was 
introduced,  very  generally,  at  the  stations  west  of  Fort  Hays,  by 
the  railroad  employees,  as  a  place  of  refuge  in  an  extremity  of 
danger. 

At  a  wood-pile  I  observed  one  evidently  built  for  the  accom 
modation  of  a  single  person.  While  stopping  to  "  wood  up," 
I  entered  into  conversation  with  an  old  man  who  seemed  to  be 
Bole  monarch  of  the  establishment,  wood-pile  included.  I  in 
quired  of  him  whether  he  had  any  fears  of  the  Indians.  He 
replied :  "  No ;  I  am  an  old  man,  and  have  not  many  years 
longer  to  live  any  how ;  if  they  come  around  these  parts  and 
get  me  out  there,  it  will  only  be  cutting  off  a  life  already  more 
than  most  peoplo  live."  This  was,  indeed,  philosophy  reduced 
to  a  fine  point.  The  old  fellow  appeared  to  be  perfectly  resigned 
and  cheerful,  whatever  might  be  the  fate  awaiting  him. 

During  the  entire  journey,  we  were  passing  through  immense 
herds  of  buffalo.  As  the  chances  for  shooting  were  admirable, 
I  left  the  General's  car,  taking  my  rifle  and  posted  myself  on  the 
cow-catcher,  or  rather  buffalo-catcher  of  the  locomotive.  After 
proceeding  about  ten  miles,  we  struck  a  large  herd  crossing  the 
track.  The  locomotive  pursued  its  course  without  diminution 
of  speed.  Approaching  the  herd  rather  rapidly,  I  did  not  favor 
the  idea  of  receiving  a  buffalo  in  my  lap,  a  fact  growing  momen 
tarily  more  probable.  The  herd  had  passed.  One  animal  lag 
ging  in  the  rear  out  of  bewilderment,  or  reckless  daring,  planted 
himself  in  the  middle  of  the  track,  with  his  head  down  as  much 
as  to  say,  "  Come  on  who  ever  you  are  and  we'll  try."  As  I 
felt  no  relish  to  be  a  party  to  any  such  cranial  collision,  and 
finding  no  other  convenient  place,  took  a  conspicuous  but  un 
comfortable  position  on  the  steam-chest,  holding  on  by  the  rail, 
I  found  the  temperature  aa  far  as  my  feet  were  concerned 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  63 

anything  but  desirable,  but  in  momentary  anticipation  of  a  rare 
display  of  buffalo-meat,  kept  a  sharp  look-out  for  the  pieces. 
At  this  moment,  the  whistle  blew.  The  buffalo,  startled  at  the 
shrill  sound,  made  an  effort  to  get  out  of  the  way.  He  suc 
ceeded,  so  far  as  to  have  his  posteriors  pretty  well  damaged, 
that  is  minus  his  tail,  and  to  wind  up  with  a  series  of  aflrobatic 
exercises  over  the  embankment. 

Upon  his  return  to  Fort  Hays,  the  Commanding  General 
received  dispatches  from  different  parts  of  the  department,  indi 
cating  greater  boldness  of  the  savages  than  had  as  yet  charac 
terized  their  operations.  A  body  of  one  thousand  Kiowas, 
attacked  Fort  Zarah,  on  the  Arkansas,  but  were  driven  off,  after 
a  brisk  fight.  From  Fort  Lyon  in  Colorado,  it  was  reported 
that  demonstrations  of  small  parties  were  daily  events.  At 
Fort  Harker,  on  the  railroad,  seventy-five  savages  made  their 
appearance,  to  the  consternation  of  the  settlers  in  the  vicinity. 

While  the  Indians  were  thus  occupying  themselves,  the 
Commanding  General  was  busily  engrossed  in  perfecting  the 
plans  of  the  campaign,  and  making  every  necessary  provision 
for  the  success  of  his  moveme  nts  when  the  proper  time  should 
arrive. 

The  insufficiency  of  the  military  force  within  the  department 
occasioned  the  calling  out  of  twelve  companies  of  volunteer 
cavalry  from  the  State  of  Kansas,  to  serve  for  six  months 
unless  sooner  discharged.  As  an  additional  measure  to  secure 
success,  by  the  employment  of  proper  guides  and  trailers,  the 
General  opened  negotiations  with  the  Osage  and  Kaw  tribes  of 
Indians  in  Kansas,  and  the  Utes  in  New  Mexico,  asking  them 
to  furnish  a  number  of  warriors,  stipulating  to  pay  them  for 
their  services,  and  giving  them  liberty  to  take  and  keep  all 
Indian  ponies  they  might  capture  in  the  campaign.  Each  of 
these  tribes  promised  to  send  some  of  their  best  men.  The 
Utes  and  Osages  were  particularly  the  mortal  enemies  of  the 
Kiowas  and  Cheyennes,  During  the  previous  summer  a  war 
party  of  Utes  left  their  haunts  in  New  Mexico  and,  after  march 
ing  on  foot  a  distance  of  over  nve  hundred  miles,  fell  upon  a 


64  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

band  of  Riowas,  completely  routed  them,  captured  a  number  of 
ponies,  took  many  scalps,  and,  more  calamitous  than  all,  got 
possession  of  the  "  medicine  "  of  the  band.  As  might  be  infer 
red,  the  Kiowas  had  a  superstitious  dread  of  the  very  name 
Ute.  The  employment  of  these  people,  therefore,  would  be  a 
valuable  accession  to  the  army  in  the  special  duty  for  which 
their  assistance  was  solicited. 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  65 


CHAPTER  XI. 

AN  OLD  FASHIONED  BUFFALO  HUNT — THE  HABITS  OF  THE  BISON  OR  BUFFALO. 

'0  relieve  the  monotony  of  inactivity  the  Commanding  \ 
9  General,  much  to  the  pleasure  of  a  number  of  the  offi 
cers  of  the  staff  and  garrison  at  Fort  Hays,  proposed 
a  "  genuine  "  buffalo  hunt.  The  diversion  was  also 
in  part  out  of  compliment  to  Captain  Merryman,  ef 
the  U.  S.  revenue  cutter  M'Culloch,  then  on  a  visit  to  head 
quarters.  A  bright  day  in  October  was  fixed  for  the  sport. 
Accordingly  at  an  early  hour  the  horses  were  sent  to  the  rail 
road  and  put  on  the  cars.  Leaving  Hays  City  we  ran  up  the 
track,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  Here,  by  means  of  a  gang 
plank,  the  horses  were  led  out  of  the  cars  and  saddled  by  the 
orderlies.  Leaving  the  guard,  the  General  had  brought  with 
him  to  protect  the  train,  we  mounted  and  "  lit  out,"  as  rapid 
locomotion  is  called  in  that  locality.  Each  person  woiae  a  brace 
of  pistols  for  close  work,  and  carried  a  breech-loading  rifle  to 
use  at  greater  distance. 

After  a  lively  gallop  of  several  miles,  passing  within  the  cor 
don  of  watchful  sentinels,  always  found  on  the  outskirts,  we 
struck  a  herd  numbering  several  thousand  animals.  Our  ap 
proach  had  already  been  signalled  and  the  herd  was  moving 
off  at  a  rapid  pace.  There  was  no  time  to  lose.  Each  one  of 
the  party  singled  out  his  animal,  and  putting  spurs  to  his  horse 
dashed  after,  striving  to  get  abreast  his  game  at  a  distance  of  a 
few  paces,  in  order  to  deliver  his  fire.  The  General  led  off  in 
the  charge  followed  by  Merryman,  who,  accustomed  to  salt 
water  navigation,  swayed  from  side  to  side.  He,  however, 
maintained  a  vigorous  hold  upon  the  pummel  of  the  saddle, 

6 


66  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

bounded  into  the  air  and  returned  emphatically,  but  not  always 
gracefully,  into  his  saddle  with  every  leap  of  his  horse.  The 
General,  after  considerable  maneuvering,  managed  to  separate 
a  fine  cow  from  her  companions  The  chase  was  quite  spirited 
for  several  hundred  yards,  but  a  well  directed  shot  under  the 
shoulder,  which  very  summarily  suspended  the  powers  of  loco 
motion  on  the  part  of  the  buffalo,  put  a  termination  to  the  race. 
Several  of  the  party  soon  became  busily  engaged  on  their  own 
account  in  the  exciting  sport.  One  young  bull,  of  irate  temper, 
finding  himself  selected  as  a  target,  undertook  to  show  fight 
and  turned  upon  his  pursuer.  For  some  minutes  the  characters 
were  reversed,  and,  judging  from  appearances,  it  might  have  been 
supposed  that  the  buffalo  was  the  hunter.  In  the  course  of  an 
hour  five  animals  were  killed.  Most  of  the  horses',  however, 
were  perfectly  "  green,"  and  consequently  no  use  whatever, 
except  to  follow,  giving  the  rider  an  opportunity  to  witness  the 
sport  without  participating  in  it. 

There  is  something  majestic  and  formidable  in  the  appearance 
of  a  buffalo.  It  is  therefore  not  surprising  that  but  few  horses 
will  readily  approach  sufficiently  near  to  enable  the  hunter  to 
make  a  close  shot.  Some  horses  rebel,  notwithstanding  every 
effort  to  allay  their  alarm.  Others,  by  a  proper  course  of  train 
ing,  carry  their  riders,  without  any  direction,  into  just  the  posi 
tion  desirable.  Such  an  animal  is  a  treasure  in  the  esteem  of  a 
plainsman.  He  talks  about  his  " buffalo  horse"  with  more 
pride  than  he  would  of  himself,  had  he  accomplished  a  feat  ever 
so  wonderful.  It  was  interesting  to  watch  the  movements  of 
the  trained  horse.  He  approached  the  buffalo  rapidly  but  cau 
tiously.  His  eyes  were  steadily  fixed  upon  the  animal  and 
watched  every  motion.  Should  the  buffalo  expedite  his  pace, 
the  horse  did  likewise,  regulating  his  increased  rate  of  speed  so 
as  to  get  alongside  without  unnecessarily  alarming  the  animal. 
As  the  horse  came  abreast,  the  buffalo  naturally  swayed  his 
course  away  to  the  right  or  left.  This  was  the  dangerous  part 
of  the  chase.  Should  the  buffalo  after  moving  away,  the  horse 
following,  turn  suddenly,  a  collision  would  be  almost  certain. 


ON   THE  B'ORDERS.  67 

This  the  horse  seemed  to  know  so  perfectly  that  he  changed 
direction  on  a  long  turn.  After  firing,  should  the  animal  fall, 
the  horse  kept  up  his  speed,  described  a  circle  bringing  him 
back  to  the  carcass  of  the  dead  or  wounded  buffalo. 

Timid  horses  and  awkward  riders  run  great  risk  of  their  lives 
by  not  knowing  how  to  avoid  any  hostile  demonstrations  on  the 
part  of  the  buffalo.  The  latter  has  the  advantage,  and  by  not 
keeping  a  close  watch,  fatal  results  are  sure  to  occur.  An  old 
hunter,  mounted  on  a  "  buffalo  horse,"  in  every  sense  of  the 
term,  dashing  fearlessly  across  the  plain  in  pursuit  of  this  truly 
magnificent  game,  presents  a  picture  the  very  culmination  of 
manly  sport. 

During  our  own  attempts  to  make  a  fair  show  of  knowledge 
of  the  subject,  there  were  several  very  narrow  escapes  as  re 
garded  personal  safety.  Two  of  our  party  being  in  pursuit  of 
the  same  animal,  there  was  quite  a  competition  as  to  who  would 
get  the  first  shot.  The  rider  in  the  rear,  in  the  excitement  had 
his  pistol  go  off  out  of  time.  The  ball  passed  within  a  very  few 
inches  of  the  front  rider's  head.  Both  were  alarmed,  and  the 
race  terminated  by  the  one  apologizing,  and  the  other  feeling 
around  to  see  whether  he  had  been  hurt. 

While  our  own  sport  was  going  on,  two  Mexicans  with  us, 
were  to  be  seen  in  the  very  midst  of  the  herd  following  up  the 
younger  animals.  Each  rider  had  his  lariat,  holding  the  coil  in 
one  hand  and  with  the  other  swinging  the  loop  above  his  head 
in  order  to  get  the  proper  momentum.  It  was  short  work.  At 
the  first  attempt,  each  man  had  his  noose  over  the  head  of  a 
fine  yearling.  The  horses  gradually  slackened  their  gait,  while 
the  terrified  buffaloes  made  every  effort  to  escape.  One  of  the 
lariats,  unfortunately,  parted  and  off  went  the  animal  with  it 
dangling  at  his  heels.  The  other  calf  was  secured  and  sent  to 
the  train. 

After  several  hours  occupied  in  the  exciting  amusement  of 
the  chase,  we  returned  to  the  cars.  The  horses,  much  blown, 
were  unsaddled  and  put  aboard.  A  party  of  soldiers  were  sent 
out  to  bring  in  "the  meat. 


68  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

On  our  homeward  journey  a  fine  herd  of  antelopes  was  dis 
covered  ahead,  close  to  the  track.  By  a  little  skillful  calcula 
tion  of  time,  distance,  and  velocity,  the  engineer  brought  us 
within  three  hundred  yards.  A  perfect  fusilade  was  opened 
out  of  the  car  windows,  during  which,  one  of  the  beautiful  little 
animals  was  seen  to  fall.  The  train  stopped  and  the  "meat" 
was  brought  in.  This  terminated  the  day's  sport.  At  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening  we  reached  Fort  Hays. 

I  may,  in  this  connection,  make  a  few  passing  notes  upon  the 
resorts  and  habits  of  the  American  bison  or  buffalo,  as  he  is 
popularly  designated.  With  the  savage  nomad,  he  constitutes 
the  actual  and  aboriginal  occupant  of  the  plains.  The  move 
ments  of  the  immense  herds  of  buffaloes  regulate  the  locations 
of  the  savage  tribes.  They  constitute  the  commissariat  of  the 
Indian,  and  govern  frequently  his  ability  for  war  or  control  his 
desire  for  peace.  Prior  to  the  opening  of  the  country  to  the 
settler,  the  buffalo  roamed  over  the  entire  territory  from  the 
Missouri  river  to  the  Kocky  mountains,  and  from  the  plains  of 
western  Texas  to  the  head- waters  ef  the  Missouri  in  the  north. 
To-day  the  buffalo  is  rarely  seen  south  of  the  Bed  river,  or 
within  two  hundred  miles  of  the  Missouri,  at  Kansas  City.  In 
numbers  he  is  evidently  rapidly  diminishing,  though  the  count 
less  herds,  found  during  the  summer  along  the  railroads,  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  the  race  is  far  from  running  out. 

The  buffalo  is  migratory  in  his  habits  and  subject  to  two 
influences  in  his  movements,  the  seasons,  and  the  abundance  or 
scarcity  of  pasturage.  The  migrations  of  the  herds  appear  to 
be  simultaneous.  I  have  seen  herd  after  herd  stretching  over 
a  distance  of  eighty  miles,  all  tending  in  the  same  direction. 
During  the  early  spring  months  they  are  generally  to  be  found 
in  the  regions  south  of  the  Canadian,  as  far  as  the  Red.  Here 
the  winters  are  short  and  the  grass  shoots  early.  As  the  pas 
turage  makes  its  appearance  towards  the  north,  the  herds  follow, 
moving  across  the  Cknmaron,  the  Arkansas,  the  Smoky  Hill, 
the  Republican,  and  beyond  the  Platte.  Cases  frequently  occur 
where  small  herds  becoming  detached  from  the  main  bodies, 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  69 

and  particularly  the  old  bulls  and  cows  unable  to  travel,  remain 
north  of  the  Platte,  and  manage  to  eke  out  an  existence  through 
the  coldest  winters.  Other  small  herds  are  found  in  different 
localities  far  south  during  the  summer.  These  exceptions,  to 
the  general  rule  of  their  habits ,  are  always  the  result  of  causes, 
such  as  inability  to  follow  the  main  herd,  or  being  detached  and 
driven  back. 


7C  SHERIDAN'S  TBOOPflRS 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  BUFFALO  HERD — ITS  ORGANIZATION — A  BRUTE  ARMY — THE  ANTELOPE- 
POPULAR  BUFFALO  HUNT. 

N  all  bis  habits  tbe  buffalo  displays  an  instinctive  sense 
of  organization  and  discipline  wliich  alone  could  accom 
plish  the  wise  provisions  of  nature  in  subsisting  such 
enormous  masses  of  animal  life.  Not  only  does  the 
great  herd,  as  a  mass,  preserve  a  remarkable  concert  of 
action  "  on  the  move,"  but  it  is  subdivided  into  smaller  herds, 
which  seem  to  be  composed  of  animals  having  peculiar  affinities. 
These  small  herds  have  each  their  leader,  always  a  fine  young 
or  middle-aged  bull,  whose  fighting  qualities  had  won  for  him 
the  ascendancy  over  all  other  male  competitors.  In  the  black 
mass  presented  by  the  great  herd  a  space,  sometimes  as  limited 
as  a  hundred  yards,  can  always  be  detected  between  the  sub 
divisions.  Each  herd  always  preserves  its  relative  position  to 
the  others,  and,  in  case  of  alarm,  takes  flight  in  a  single  mass. 
It  also  preserves  the  same  relation  in  galloping  to  water. 

As  a  precaution  against  surprise,  each  herd  has  its  videttes, 
through  which  the  alarm  is  given  upon  the  appearance  of  dan 
ger.  Approaching  a  herd,  groups  of  buffaloes  in  fours  and 
fives  are  first  seen.  These,  taking  the  alarm,  gallop  towards 
the  common  centre.  The  ever-watchful  and  suspicious  young 
males  immediately  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  herd  receive  the 
movements  of  the  videttes  as  warnings.  They  sniff  the  air, 
and  with  piercing  vision  scan  the  plain.  If  the  cause  of  alarm 
be  discovered,  the  herd-leader,  heading  the  way,  sets  out,  fol 
lowed  by  the  cows  and  calves,  while  the  males  form  a  sort  of 
rear  guaid  and  flankers.  For  the  sake  of  protection,  the  females 


5  ON   THE   BORDERS.  7) 

and  the  young  occupy  the  centre  of  the  herd.  By  a  wise  in 
Btinct,  the  young  are  thus  secured  from  the  ravenous  wolf,  and 
the  natural  timidity  of  the  cow  is  guarded  against  sudden  or 
unnecessary  alarm. 

The  evening  is  the  usual  time  for  the  herds  to  set  out  for 
*  water.  When  moving  for  this  purpose,  they  may  be  seen  in 
single-file,  following  their  leaders,  traveling  at  an  ambling  gait. 
Frequently  they  travel  eight  or  ten  miles  to  the  nearest  stream 
or  pond.  The  passage  of  large  numbers  of  buffalo  in  this  way 
over  the  same  ground  soon  marks  out  a  well-beaten  track,  re 
sembling  a  foot-path,  and  known  to  hunters  as  the  "  buffalo 
trail."  On  the  banks  of  the  streams  running  through  the  buf 
falo  country  these  trails  may  be  seen  converging  from  all  direc 
tions,  some  faintly  marked,  while  some  are  worn  eight  and  ten 
inches  in  depth.  These  trails  not  only  follow  the  most  direct 
course  to  a  given  point,  but  always  lead  to  water  or  %  water 
course.  The  traveler  on  the  plains  is  frequently  obliged  to  take 
to  the  trail  of  the  buffalo  in  order  to  reach  water.  In  many 
places  the  "buffalo  wallow"  furnishes  a  supply  of  stagnant 
water  which,  though  extremely  unpalatable,  ha?  often  saved 
life.  The  buffalo  wallow  is  a  circular,  dish- shaped,  hole  in  the 
earth,  about  twelve  feet  in  diameter  and  a  foot  deep  at  its  great 
est  concavity.  During  the  warm  season,  immense  clouds  of 
dust  are  to  be  seen  rising  over  a  herd  quietly  grazing.  Like 
other  animals  of  his  species,  the  buffalo  frequently  amuses  him 
self  by  wallowing  in  the  fine  sand  or  plowing  up  the  earth  with 
his  horns.  The  surface  once  broken,  the  place  becomes  a  com 
mon  resort,  until  the  wallow  assumes  the  shape  above  described. 
In  the  wet  season,  the  rain  fills  up  the  wallow,  and,  unless  con 
sumed,  standing  water  is  to  be  found  there  far  into  summer. 

Among  the  young  buffalo  bulls  there  seems  to  be  a  remarka 
ble  aspiration  to  secure  the  leadership  of  the  herd.  This  ques 
tion  of  rank  is  annually  settled  by  a  test  of  strength.  Certain 
ambitious  males  set  themselves  up  asvcompetitors.  The  first 
opportunity  that  offers  is  accepted.  The  contests  are  stubborn 
and  severe — frequently  fatal.  If  the  old  leader  gets  the  upper 


72  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS  * 

hand,  he  is  doubly  a  hero,  and  his  claims  to  pre-eminence  are 
greater  than  ever.  Next  in  rank  to  the  herd-leader  are  a  num 
ber  of  young  buffalo,  courtiers  and  gallants,  who  have  free  range 
of  the  herd  so  long  as  they  do  not  come  in  contact  with  the 
leader,  or  trespass  upon  his  privileges.  Between  the  young 
and  the  old  males  there  is  an  inveterate  hostility.  As  the* 
young  grow  in  ability  to  cope  with  the  fathers  of  the  herd,  a 
regular  conflict  takes  place.  If  it  terminates  in  favor  of  the 
former,  the  old  buffaloes  are  unceremoniously  driven  out.  Thus 
banished  from  their  associations  when  strong  and  active,  the 
old  animals  form  a  sort  of  hermit  order  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
herds,  where  they  constitute  the  outer  guard.  These  competi 
tive  encounters  are  constantly  taking  place.  As  one  generation 
of  males  succeeds  another  those,  driven  out  can  never  return, 
but  live  an  exiled  existence  until  age,  the  hunter's  bullet,  dis 
ease,  or  the  ravenous  wolf,  finishes  their  days. 

The  females  display,  most  remarkably,  the  attachments  of 
maternity.  In  one  instance,  I  remember,  our  party  shot  and 
badly  wounded  a  fine  calf  about  six  months  old.  As  the  calf 
fell,  the  mother  turned  and  looked  upon  it  with  an  expression 
of  absolute  grief.  Her  offspring  made  repeated  efforts  to  rise, 
but  without  avail.  The  mother,  in  perfect  despair,  ran  around 
her  young,  uttering  low  moans.  As  we  approached,  the  mother's 
nature  was  entirely  changed.  She  stamped  upon  the  ground 
as  if  to  warn  us  to  "  keep  off."  Although  she  made  no  direct 
attack,  she  manifested  a  disposition  to  defend  her  young,  which 
was  only  exceeded  by  the  shouts  and  firing,  which  seemed  to 
terrify  her.  To  put  the  calf  out  of  its  suffering  and  relieve  the 
distress  of  the  mother,  and  insure  our  own  safety,  both  animals 
were  dispatched. 

Always  in  the  vicinity  of  the  buffalo  herd  the  hunter  en 
counters  that  beautiful  little  animal,  the  antelope.  Shy  and 
timid,  with  an  acute  scent  and  far-reaching  vision,  it  is  difficult 
of  approach.  An  old  animal  is  killed  now  and  then  by  a  long- 
range  rifle.  Like  other  timid  animals,  the  antelope  has  a  re 
markable  development  of  that  too-often  fatal  instinct,  curiosity. 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  73 

By  taking  advantage  of  this  failing,  the  experienced  hunter 
succeeds  in  taking  the  game.  The  usual  means  resorted  to  is 
"  still  hunting."  A  red  flannel  flag,  fastened  to  a  short  stick, 
is  posted  in  a  conspicuous  place.  The  hunter  then  secretes 
himself  and  waits  for  an  opportunity.  This  is  always  a  slow 
process ;  but,  with  a  proper  degree  of  patience,  if  any  where 
in  the  vicinity  of  antelopes  so  that  the  flag  can  be  seen,  he  is 
sure  "  to  bring  a  haul." 

The  wolves  and  the  coyotes  are  the  inveterate  enemies  of 
the  antelope,  and  continually  waylay  its  path.  The  fleetness 
of  the  animal,  however,  is  its  complete  protection  until  weak 
ened  by  age,  or,  probably,  it  has  been  crippled.  In  times  of 
danger,  if  possible,  the  antelope  takes  refuge  within  the  lines 
of  the  nearest  herd  of  buffaloes.  Its  excessive  fright  at  these 
times  often  causes  whole  herds  of  the  mighty  beasts  to  take  to 
their  heels  as  if  a  battalion  of  hunters  were  on  their  tracks. 

Probably  one  of  the  most  perfect  pictures  of  desertion  and 
despair,  is  the  aged  and  enfeebled  buffalo.  Driven  first  from 
the  herd  as  if  it  were  a  mortal  offence  to  live  beyond  a  certain 
period  of  summers,  or  his  inability  to  follow  its  movements,  he 
is  left  alone  to  wander  feebly  about,  without  companions,  and  an 
object  of  patient,  sometimes  decidedly  impatient,  watchfulness 
on  the  part  of  the  wolf.  When  the  buffalo  has  arrived  at  such 
an  advanced  age,  he  will  be  found  near  a  constant  stream  where 
grass  grows  in  abundance.  Isolated,  shy  in  his  movements,  and 
alarmed  at  the  slightest  indications  of  danger,  he  seems  to  lose 
his  customary  boldness,  and  becomes  an  easily  terrified  and 
suspicious  animal.  He  loses  his  vigorous  appearance,  and,  lite 
rally  becomes  worn  down  and  decrepit.  The  timidity  of  age 
grows  upon  him,  and  the  solemn  stillness  and  solitude  which 
surrounds  him  is  calculated  to  increase  rather  than  diminish 
this  instinctive  terror.  Few  of  these  superannuated  specimens 
come  to  a  natural  end.  The  starving  wolf  and  his  diminutive 
companion  the  cayote,  are  ever  ready  to  take  advantage  of  the 
first  favorable  opportunity  of  hastening  the  demise  of  the  object 
of  their  solicitude  and  observation.  Under  the  goading  impulse 


74  SIIEIMDAN'S    TROOPERS 

of  hunger,  the  wolf  does  not  hesitate  to  attack  any  buffalo  who 
may  have  strayed  from  the  herd.  As  if  tired  of  waiting  for 
the  natural  course,  of  the  expiring  fires  of  nature,  his  wolfship, 
with  a  few  comrades  begins  a  regular  series  of  battles  until  his 
his  victim  is  overpowered. 

On  one  occasion  while  present  with  a  small  detachment  of 
scouts,  we  suddenly  drew  to  the  summit  of  a  "divide."  In  the 
valley  below  an  old  buffalo,  and  a  pack  of  seven  large  gray 
wolves,  were  evidently  in  the  act  of  engaging  in  a  mortal  fray. 
The  old  buffalo,  as  if  realizing  his  situation,  stood  with  his  head 
down  and  confronting  the  wolves.  At  times  he  threw  his  head 
up  and  down,  dropped  out  his  blackened  tongue,  and  constantly 
uttered  a  low  hoarse  roar.  We  determined  to  witness  the  con 
flict,  which  was  evidently  at  hand.  We  halted  and  lariated 
our  animals,  The  buffalo  so  much  engrossed  in  his  own  safety 
failed  to  discover  our  presence,  though  not  more  than  several 
hundred  yards  off.  The  wolves  saw  us.  This  only  sharpened 
their  appetite,  and  seemed  to  hasten  their  desire  to  secure  the 
feast  which  they  had  before  them.  The  wolves  were  seated 
upon  their  haunches  and  formed  a  sort  of  semi-circle  in  front 
of  the  buffalo.  They  resembled  so  many  wise  men  in  council. 
The  buffalo  stood  a  few  paces  off,  very  careful  to  keep  his 
moppy  head  towards  his  starving  tormentors,  and  his  hind-quar 
ters  in  an  opposite  direction,  free  from  any  demonstration  in 
the  rear.  By  way  of  response  to  the  fierce  gutteral  effusions 
of  the  buffalo,  the  wolves  at  times  set  up  a  mournful  chorus. 
No  sooner  did  the  wolves  see  us  than  they  slyly  deployed  for 
action.  Finding  his  rear  thus  in  danger,  the  buffalo  made  a 
dive  at  the  nearest  wolf,  tumbling  him  over  and  over.  During 
this  movement,  however,  the  rest  of  the  pack  pounced  upon 
the  hind  legs  of  the  buffalo,  snarling  and  snapping,  and  tearing 
at  his  hams.  Their  object,  evidently,  was  to  hamstring  their 
antagonist.  These  attacks  in  the  rear  diverted  the  attention  of 
the  buffalo  from  the  hapless  victim  of  his  first  charge.  The 
animal  turned  to  attack  in  the  opposite  direction,  but  his  tor 
mentors  were  once  more  at  his  vulnerable  point. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  75 

The  contest  after  these  opening  performances  grew  lively  and 
exciting.  The  buffalo  evidently  fully  appreciated  the  situation, 
and  the  wolves  were  not  to  be  robbed  of  their  meal.  The  hind 
quarters  of  the  buffalo  streamed  with  blood,  and  the  animal 
showed  signs  of  exhaustion.  He  did  not  dare  to  lie  down  for 
that  would  be  fatal.  The  wolves  had  three  of  their  number 
hors  dn  combat.  The  noise  of  the  contest  had  attracted  quite 
an  audience  of  cayotee,  and  a  few  interloper  wolves,  sitting  at  a 
distance,  licking  their  chops,  and  impatiently  awaiting  the  issue, 
evidently  expecting  an  invitation  to  participate  in  the  feast. 
The  buffalo  made  several  efforts  at  flight,  but  soon  found  that 
that  was  a  useless  manoeuvre.  The  battle  test  had  been  going 
on  more  than  an  hour,  and  having  no  more  time  to  devote  to 
that  sort  of  recreation,  a  well  directed  volley  laid  out  several 
of  their  wolfish  excellencies.  The  buffalo  did  not  stop  to  thank 
us  for  our  timely  assistance,  but  took  the  first  moment  of  relief 
to  hobble  off.  The  animal  was  evidently  badly  injured,  and 
doubtless  our  interference  was  merely  prolonging  the  burden 
of  life,  now  doubly  an  encumbrance. 

A  wolf  feast  over  the  carcass  of  a  buffalo  is  one  of  those 
sharp-toned  entertainments,  which  could  only  be  compared  to  an 
old  fashioned  tea-party,  composed  of  snappish  octogenarian, 
paralytic,  and  generally  debilitated  characters  of  both  sexes, 
with  a  fair  sprinkle  of  shriveled  virginity,  and  a  few  used  up 
celebates  of  the  masculine  gender.  Each  one  guzzling  to  his 
hearts  content,  and  growling,  and  finding  fault  with  his  neighbor. 

The  construction  of  railroads  has  developed  a  new  and  exten 
sive  field  for  pleasure  seekers.  The  facilities  of  communication 
now  opened  with  that  strange  and  remote  section,  the  plains, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  the  opportunity  afforded  of  seeing  the 
buffalo,  that  animal  above  all  others  associated  from  our  earliest 
years  with  everything  wild  and  daring,  now  invites  visitors 
from  all  parts  of  the  country.  From  the  cities  of  Chicago, 
Cincinnati,  St.  Louis,  and  other  less  important  points  during 
the  autumn  of  1868,  excursions  were  made  up  at  low  rates  of 
fare. 


76  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

The  following  announcement  of  an  excursion  I  found  at  one 
of  the  railroad  stations,  I  give  a  copy  of  it  as  one  of  the 
peculiar  and  progressive  innovations  made  by  the  railways. 

RAILWAY  EXCURSION 

AND 

BUFFALO  HUNT. 

An  excursion  train  will  leave  Leavenworth,  at  8  a,  m.  and 
Lawrence,  at  10  a.  m.  for 

SHERIDAN, 

On  Tuesday,  October  27,  1868,  and  return  on  Friday. 
This  train  will  stop  at  the  principal  stations  both  going  and 
returning. 

Ample  time  will  be  had  for  a  grand  Buffalo 

HUNT  ON  THE  PLAINS. 

Buffaloes  are  so  numerous  along  the  road  that  they  are  shot 
from  the  cars  nearly  every  day.  On  our  last  excursion  our 
party  killed  twenty  buffaloes  in  a  hunt  of  six  hours. 

All  passengers  can  have  refreshments  on  the  cars  at  reason 
able  prices. 

Tickets  of  round  trip  from  Leavenworth,  $10.00. 

The  inducements,  at  these  rates,  to  any  one  anxious  to  visit 
the  plains,  and  see  a  live  buffalo,  and  perhaps  a  "  live  injun," 
not  so  acceptable  at  that  time,  were  certainly  very  tempting,  as 
the  full  expense  of  the  above  trip,  at  the  regular  rate  of  fare, 
would  not  have  been  short  of  seventy  dollars.  A  quarter  of  a 
century  hence,  the  buffalo  and  the  Indian  will  have  entirely 
disappeared  from  the  line  of  the  railways.  The  few  that  still 
survive  will  have  then  been  driven  to  the  most  remote,  inacces 
sible,  and  uninhabitable  sections,  if  not  entirely  exterminated. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  77 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CARR'S  GALLOP  ALONG  THE  REPUBLICAN — ARRIVAL  OF  OSAGE  WARRIORS.  . 

HILE  the  Commanding  General  was  deeply  absorbed 
in  completing  bis  preparations  for  the  contemplated 
movement  towards  tbe  Washita  river  in  the  south, 
the  savages  on  the  Republican  were  kept  in  constant 
alarm  and  uneasiness.  About  the  middle  of  October, 
a  squadron  of  the  10th  cavalry,  one  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
while  acting  as  escort  to  Brevet  Major  General  Carr,  Major  5th 
cavalry,  en  route  to  his  command  in  the  field,  supposed  to  be 
on  the  Beaver,  was  attacked  by  a  large  party  of  Indians,  num 
bering  nearly  five  hundred  warriors.  The  savages  exhibited 
great  boldness,  approached  close  to  the  column,  and  fired  with 
deliberate  aim.  The  engagement  began  early  in  the  morning 
and  ceased  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  inflicting  a  loss  of 
ten  warriors  killed  and  many  wounded  on  the  part  of  the  sav 
ages,  and  three  enlisted  men  wounded  in  the  command  From 
a  warrior,  wounded  in  the  fight,  information  was  obtained  that 
their  camp  was  on  the  Solomon,  at  Chalk  bluff,  and  that  they 
had  left  it  the  night  before,  that  it  consisted  of  eight  hundred 
lodges  of  Cheyennes,  Arrapahoes,  and  Sioux,  and  stated  that  a 
Jarge  war-party  had  gone  to  the  Saline. 

Hardly  had  the  savages  recovered  from  their  discomfiture  on 
the  banks  of  the  Beaver,  than  they  again  found  themselves  unex 
pectedly  confronted  by  a  more  powerful  force.  No  sooner  had 
the  Commanding  General  learned  this  acceptable  information, 
than  he  ordered  a  new  movement  from  Fort  Wallace,  putting 
every  available  man  in  the  field.  By  a  fortunate  coincidence, 
the  5th  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Royal,  had  just  returned  to  the 


78  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

railroad  for  supplies.  As  this  was  the  column  in  search  of 
which  Oarr  had  moved  north  with  an  escort,  the  General  joined 
it  and  hastened  preparations  for  a  new  start.  Some  reinforce 
ments  were  sent  forward.  The  entire  force  when  it  moved,  con 
sisted  of  companies  A,  B,  F,  H,  I,  L,  and  M,  5th  cavalry, 
and  Pepoon's  scouts,  Oarr,  commanding,  in  all  about  four  hun 
dred  and  eighty  men. 

It  was  Friday,  October  23,  when  the  troopers  started  afresh. 
The  line  of  march  lay  in  a  north-westerly  direction,  towards  the 
little  Beaver.  The  weather  was  delightfully  clear  and  bracing. 
The  plain,  hardened  by  recent  rains,  rendered  the  marching  less 
toilsome  than  before. 

Two  days  had  elapsed.  The  column  pushed  forward  with 
rapid  steps,  the  animals  instinctively  hastening  towards  water 
ing  places  and  camp.  Officers  and  men  scanned  the  country 
in  every  direction,  in  expectation  of  spying  some  detached 
band  of  savages  watching  their  line  of  march,  and  indicating 
their  proximity  to  the  scene  of  fresh  encounters.  But  the 
bold  horsemen  did  not  appear.  Immense  herds  of  buffaloes, 
with  all  the  appearance  of  a  sense  of  security,  were  seen  far  and 
near,  grazing  upon  the  broad  undulations  which  swept  away 
on  all  sides.  The  aged  bulls,  banished  from  the  herd  like  so 
many  trusty  sentinels,  at  times  snuffed  the  air,  and  seeing  nothing 
to  excite  alarm,  returned  to  their  accustomed  habits.  The  cows, 
and  their  progeny  in  the  inner  circle,  confiding  in  the  watchful 
ness  of  the  outposts  of  the  herd,  grazed  with  perfect  composure. 
The  antelope,  startled  at  imaginary  dangers,  could  be  s^en  gal 
loping  in  the  distance.  The  diminutive  prairie  dogs  rushed  to 
and  fro,  vigorously  wagging  their  stumpy  tails,  barking  fiercely, 
and  popping  in  and  out  of  their  subterranean  dwellings.  The 
wolf  might  be  seen  lying  in  wait  for  his  prey,  or  skulking  out 
of  the  way  of  something  more  formidable  than  his  questionable 
prowess  would  tempt  him  to  encounter. 

All  of  the  second  day  the  column  moved  onward.  The 
rapidity  of  the  march  was  accelerated  by  the  destruction  of 
fifteen  wagons.  The  signs  of  Indian  war-parties  were  growing 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  79 

more  frequent,  but  as  yet  no  hostile  warrior  had  been  seen.  It 
was  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  as  the  column  reached  the 
summit  of  a  "  divide."  Two  hundred  warriors,  mounted  and 
painted,  with  bows  sprung,  now  rose  as  if  by  magic.  It  was 
evident  from  their  actions  that  they  had  no  disposition  to  attack, 
their  object  being  to  retard  the  movement  of  the  column.  They 
resorted  to  the  practice  of  firing  the  dry  grass  to  the  windward 
as  an  impediment  to  the  march.  Detachments  of  troopers,  well 
mounted,  made  several  dashes,  but  the  savages,  with  their  usual 
skill,  avoided  an  encounter.  From  the  persistence  exhibited  in 
declining  an  engagement,  it  was  apparent  that  their  main  body 
had  not  as  yet  come  up,  and,  until  they  were  ready,  it  were  a 
fruitless  task  to  essay  forcing  an  action.  The  troops,  therefore, 
pushed  forward,  carefully  protecting  their  flanks  and  rear  from 
surprise. 

The  third  day,  the  column,  in  battle  array,  with  trains  in  the 
centre,  moved  out  of  camp  at  an  early  hour.  An  engagement 
was  surely  expected  A  distance  of  ten  miles  having  been 
traversed,  a  strong  party  of  savages  took  position  in  front  as 
if  determined  to  dispute,  with  firmer  resolution,  the  further 
progress  of  the  troops.  A  squadron  of  cavalry,  under  Kane, 
Schenofsky,  and  Forbush,  was  ordered  forward  on  the  charge. 
The  savages  withdrew,  while  the  troopers,  for  a  distance  of 
three  miles,  kept  up  a  vigorous  pursuit.  The  squadron  now 
halted,  and  fell  back  to  the  main  body.  The  Indians,  in  turn, 
charged.  At  this  juncture,  Pepoon's  scouts  were  also  ordered 
to  the  front.  The  engagement  now  become  more  general,  A 
number  of  men,  dismounted,  advanced  as  skirmishers.  The 
savages  fought  on  horseback,  galloping  along  the  front  of  the 
skirmishers,  dodging  behind  their  horses  at  an  imaginary  bullet, 
or  firing  as  a  favorable  opportunity  offered. 

As  the  column  reached  the  summit  of  a  commanding  emi 
nence,  immense  clouds  of  dust,  rising  in  the  distance,  indicated 
another  large  body  moving  away  in  great  haste.  There  was 
now  no  doubt  of  the  fact  that  the  savages  in  front  were  a  strong 
covering  party  to  delay  the  advance  of  the  column,  while  their 


80  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

families,  lodges,  and  stock  were  being  hastened  out  of  the  reach 
of  danger. 

With  these  inducements  ahead,  the  men  used  every  exertion 
to  overtake  and  fall  upon  the  moving  villages.  A  dash  made 
at  this  time  brought  the  troops  in  possession  of  hundreds  of 
cedar  lodge-poles,  four  hundred  dried  buffalo  hides,  and  a  large 
amount  of  other  abandoned  property.  These  were  destroyed. 
Late  in  the  evening,  utterly  exhausted  in  the  chase,  the  column 
went  into  camp.  During  the  day,  the  savages  sustained  a  loss 
of  ten  warriors  and  seventy  ponies  killed,  while  on  the  side  of 
the  troops  but  several  men  were  wounded.  During  the  entire 
night,  by  the  light  of  the  burning  plain,  the  flight  of  the  sav 
ages  could  be  traced  for  miles  in  the  distance. 

The  following  morning,  the  column  resumed  the  pursuit  with 
out  opposition.  During  the  night  the  savages  had  withdrawn, 
and  were  miles  away.  The  country  had  become  more  broken 
and  difficult  to  travel.  Further  pursuit  was  in  vain.  After 
several  day's  fruitless  marching,  the  command  retraced  its  steps 
to  Fort  Wallace. 

The  successes  of  the  troops  on  the  Republican  and  its  tribu 
taries,  compelled  the  savages  to  resort  to  a  new  mode  of  tactics. 
By  experience  they  had  been  taught  their  inability  to  cope  with 
any  considerable  force.  Parties,  numbering  twenty -five  to  a 
hundred  warriors,  set  out  on  expeditions  in  different  directions, 
but  having  a  common  point  of  rendezvous.  Several  of  these 
detachments  appeared  along  the  line  of  the  railroad,  seriously 
threatening,  for  a  time,  the  safety  of  communication  with  the 
western  posts.  The  guards  west  of  Fort  Hays  were  strength 
ened,  and  cautioned  to  preserve  the  strictest  vigilance.  On  the 
last  day  of  October,  a  war-party  succeeded  in  throwing  a  train 
from  the  track  by  hacking  off  the  ends  of  the  ties  for  the  length 
of  a  rail,  but  beyond  this  accomplished  nothing. 

About  this  time,  twelve  friendly  Indians  of  the  Osage  na 
tion  arrived  at  Fort  Hays,  in  response  to  a  letter  from  the 
Commanding  General  inviting  their  people  to  unite  with  the 
white  man  against  their  enemies.  War  and  disease  -had  reduced 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  81 

the  Osages  to  a  mere  handful.  They  occupied  a  fine  reservation 
in  the  south-eastern  portion  of  Kansas,  and  lived  principally  at 
the  expense  of  the  government ;  occasionally  "  raided "  into 
the  hostile  Indian  country,  stole  from  the  settlements,  and, 
when  these  sources  of  obtaining  a  livelihood  failed,  literally 
starved  to  death. 

Upon  the  agreement  that  their  people  should  be  fed  by  the 
army,  and  that  they  would  receive  a  certain  sum  of  money  for 
services,  a  squad  of  Osages  agreed  to  serve.  The  new  arrivals 
were  arrayed  in  all  the  paint  and  finery  their  rude  toilet  could 
afford. 

At  the  head  of  their  party  was  Cha-pa-jen-kan,  or  Little 
Beaver,  the  second  chief  of  the  nation.  Little  Beaver  was  a 
remarkably  fine-looking  Indian,  sixty  years  of  age,  over  six 
feet  in  height,  spare  built  but  muscular,  and  straight  as  an 
arrow,  aquiline  features  and  a  thoughtful  expression.  Next  in* 
rank  was  Wen-tsi-kee,  or  Hard-rope,  the  chief  counselor,  cele 
brated  for  his  prowess  in  battle,  as  well  as  for  his  wisdom  in 
council.  He  was  an  old  man  of  heavy  frame.  The  most 
prominent  of  the  "soldiers"  was  Koom la-man che,  or  Trotter, 
celebrated  as  being  the  fleetest  runner  and  best  shot  in  the 
nation.  The  balance  were  young  men  of  fine  physique,  and 
were  selected  for  their  fitness  for  tl^p  duty  it  was  designed  that 
they  should  perform. 


SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

A  WAR  DANCE — BEADY  TO  TAKE  THE  FIELD. 

FEW  days  after  their  arrival,  the  friendly  Indiana 
receive^  their  arms  and  proposed  celebrating  the 
occasion  by  giving  a  grand  war-dance.  After  dark  a 
party  of  officers  and  ladies  from  the  post,  repaired  to 
the  spot  selected  for  the  purpose.  At  the  foot  of  a 
gentle  slope  in  the  plain,  upon  the  banks  of  a  small  stream, 
and  in  the  midst  of  a  grove,  the  savages  had  built  a  large  fire. 
In  a  semi-circle,  facing  the  fire,  they  had  seated  themselves, 
their  eyes  with  thoughtful  and  solemn  expression  were  fixed 
upon  the  flame.  The  chief,  Little  Beaver,  had  established 
himself  upon  a  rude  dias  of  sticks,  from  which  he  gazed  about 
him  with  inward  pride  and  satisfaction.  He  was  puffing  away 
at  a  huge  pipe,  and  in  th§  intervals  of  smoking  he  murmured 
over  a  few  incomprehensible  sounds  which  were  responded  to 
by  his  warriors  with  an  ugh!  ugh!! 

Each  savage  was  decorated  with  due  "  pomp  and  circum 
stance."  Their  mahogany- colored  bodies  were  gorgeously  cov 
ered  with  paint  and  highly  burnished.  Their  faces  were  bedaubed 
in  varied  colors  and  streaked  with  black,  forming  devices,  sug 
gested  by  the  taste  of  the  person.  A  breech-clout,  leggins  and 
moccasins,  constituted  all  the  dress  they  wore.  Their  heads 
were  a  forest  of  feathers,  and  from  their  scalp-locks  were  sus 
pended  long  trains,  composed  of  a  number  of  small  silver  plates. 
In  their  hands  they  held  their  bows,  arrows,  spears,  and  war- 
clubs.  One  of  the  party  had  a  small  drum,  while  another,  seated 
by  his  side,  held  a  large  Indian  rattle. 


*  ON   THE  BORDERS.  83 

When  the  time  had  arrived  for  the  dance  to  commence,  the 
old  chief  stood  up  and  said  a  few  words,  by  way  of  an  introduc 
tion.  As  soon  as  he  had  finished  and  seated  himself  once  more, 
the  warriors  with  the  drum  and  rattle  stood  up.  Stepping  to 
wards  the  fire,  they  began  a  mournful  refrain,  simultaneously 
drumming  and  rattling  vigorously.  This  prelude  lasted  but  a 
few  seconds,  when  the  rest  of  the  warriors,  with  a  fearful  whoop, 
sprang  to  their  feet,  all  joining  in  a  chorus  of  the  wildest  descrip 
tion.  With  each  utterance  the  dancers  assumed  a  new  and 
grotesque  attitude,  stamping  their  feet  in  the  most  excited  man 
ner.  Frequently  one  imitated  the  neigh  of  a  horse,  which  was 
responded  to  by  others  with  a  whoop.  The  sounds,  uttered  in 
the  refrain,  resembled  the  following : 

Ah-ha-ha-haah,  haah, 

Haah-haah,  haah-haah, 

Aha,  aha,  aha,  ahaah, 

Ha-ha,  ha-ha. 

In  the  height  of  the  excitement,  the  old  chief,  warming  up, 
harangued  the  dancing  warriors.  His  words  were  always  re 
ceived  with  yells  of  approbation. 

The  dance  was  divided  into  four  parts,  at  the  expiration  of 
each  of  which  the  warriors  took  a  respite  of  a  few  moments  for 
a  blow.  The  first  scene  was  a  general  invocation  of  the  great 
spirit  to  have  success  attend  their  expedition  and  enable  them 
to  slay  large  numbers  of  their  enemies.  The  second  was  "  in 
search  of  the  trail."  Here  the  gestures  and  positions  of  the  body 
were  suggestive  of  an  actual  occurrence,  some  of  the  figures 
were  in  the  attitude  of  listening  to  an  alarm,  others  were  stoop 
ing  with  their  attention  fixed  upon  the  ground,  others  were  lying 
down  with  their  ears  to  the  earth.  After  enacting  all  these 
forms,  observed  on  the  war-path,  the  scene  terminated  in  vio 
lent  gesticulations  and  wild  shouts.  The  trail  had  been  dis 
covered. 

Taking  again  a  few  moments  rest,  the  tom-tom  beater  and 
rattler  rose  and  led  off  in  the  third  scene,  "  on  the  trail."  This 
opened  by  making  a  minute  examination  of  all  the  characteristic 


84  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

features  of  the  trail,  the  number  of  the  war-party,  and  by  some 
unknown  marks,  of  what  tribe.  After  this  preliminary  form 
was  consummated,  the  dancers  set  up  a  shout,  the  tom-tom  beat 
more  rapidly,  the  rattle  clattered  more  vigorously,  and  the  whole 
party  imitated  running,  jumping,  and  made  a  variety  of  noises. 
Occasionally  they  halted,  and  with  their  hands  shading  their 
eyes,  appeared  to  be  gazing  at  objects  in  the  distance,  and  then 
again  they  set  off  as  before,  as  if  in  pursuit  of  their  foes,  and 
rapidly  closing  upon  them.  They  finally  overtook  the  enemy 
and  a  fight  took  place,  in  which  whooping  and  yelling,  denun 
ciations,  bravadoes,  and  terrific  gesticulations  composed  the  chief 
features. 

The  closing  scene  was  "  the  return  of  the  war-party."  This 
was,  of  course',  a  celebration  of  victory.  The  dancing  was 
irregular  and  without  any  concordance  of  sounds.  The  musi 
cians  pommeled  the  tom-tom  and  shook  up  the  rattle  with  all 
their  might.  The  dancers  bounded  high  into  the  air  and  jumped 
about  in  the  most  lively  manner.  Some  indulged  in  loud  decla 
mations,  recounting  their  imaginary  deeds,  how  many  scalps  they 
had  taken,  and  how  many  hair-breadth  escapes  they  had  had. 

This  terminated  the  dance.  The  savages  now  gathered  about 
the  fire  and  appeared  to  be  in  the  best  kind  of  humor.  Laugh 
ing  and  conversation,  took  the  place  of  their  late  severity  of 
countenance  and  formality  of  demeanor.  The  scene,  upon  the 
whole,  was  peculiar,  novel,  and  interesting.  Not  a  breath  of 
wind  stirring,  the  dull  notes  of  the  tom-tom,  accompanied  by 
the  studied  sounds  of  savage  voices,  fell  upon  the  still  night  air 
with  startling  effect,  the  blazing  fire  lighting  up  the  surround 
ing  space,  and  in  full  glare  radiating  upon  the  savage  warriors 
arrayed  in  all  the  hideousness  of  battle  attire,  added  a  wierd 
effect. 

The  old  chief,  desirous  of  letting  himself  be  heard,  or  rather 
wishing  not  to  be  forgotten  in  the  midst  of  the  excitement,  com 
menced  an  harangue  for  the  benefit  of  warriors  and  visitors. 
His  words,  however,  were  little  heeded,  notwithstanding  the* 
vigor  of  voice  and  gesture  he  infused  into  them. 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  85 

Late  in  the  evening  our  party  strolled  back  to  the  fort,  hav 
ing  enjoyed  an  entertainment,  certainly  in  keeping  with  the  sur 
rounding  circumstances  of  time  and  place. 

The  warlike  preparations,  which  had  been  vigorously  pushed 
forward,  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  the  Commanding 
General,  were  now  nearly  completed.  For  two  months  five 
hundred  government  wagons  had  been  in  constant  employment 
transporting  supplies  from  the  line  of  the  railroad  to  Fort  Dodge, 
on  the  Arkansas,  accumulating  supplies  with  a  view  to  provide 
the  depots,  which  were  to  be  established  in  the  heart  of  the 
Indian  country.  Already  everything  had  been  accomplished, 
necessary  to  a  campaign  of  six  months.  The  troops,  assigned 
to  duty  in  the  field,  were  remounted,  as  far  as  necessary,  to  re 
place  horses  condemned  as  unfit  for  the  service  before  them. 
The  men  were  examined  with  a  view  to  their  own  capacity  for 
sustaining  the  trial  of  a  hazardous  and  trying  campaign  in  the 
midst  of  winter.  Their  arms  and  ammunition  were  thoroughly 
inspected  so  as  to  secure  the  most  effective  results. 

The  reports  from  the  different  scouting  parties  were  eminently 
satisfactory.  Large  bands  of  savages  from  the  north  had 
crossed  the  railroad  and  the  Denver  stage  route  going  south. 
A  body,  supposed  to  be  Sioux,  were  also  reported  crossing  the 
Platte,  going  north.  The  harrassment  to  which  they  had  been 
subjected  in  the  vicinity  of  their  old  haunts,  along  the  Repub 
lican  and  its  tributaries,  had  so  completely  dissipated  their  feel 
ings  of  security,  that  the  northern  bands  had  almost  entirely 
abandoned  that  section  and  were  in  search  of  new  seats  for  their 
villages  and  their  families.  The  season  was  far  advanced  and 
aside  from  their  repeated  disasters,  their  desire  to  be  let  alone 
was  now  gaining  strong  hold  on  the  savage  mind.  Sheridan, 
however,  as  the  cold  weather  approached,  became  more  active 
in  his  preparations,  and  the  time  to  strike  came  nearer. 

By  November  5th,  ten  companies  of  the  19th  Kansas  cavalry, 
the  volunteer  organization,  one  thousand  strong,  ordered  out  for 
the  campaign,  moved  from  their  rendezvous  at  Topeka  en  route 


86  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

for  Camp  Beecher,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Arkansas.  The 
next  day  two  companies  of  the  same  regiment,  two  hundred 
strong,  arrived  at  Fort  Hays,  and  several  days  after  were  ordered, 
by  way  of  Fort  Dodge,  to  overtake  Sully's  column,  ahout  to 
move  south,  into  the  Canadian  river  country.  The  same  day 
ten  Kansas,  or  Kaw  Indian  scouts  arrived. 

On  November  13,  the  5th  cavalry,  under  Carr,  left  Fort  Wal 
lace  for  Fort  Lyon,  Colorado  Territory,  which  was  fixed  as  the 
point  of  departure,  of  an  independent  column,  to  advance  into 
the  Cimmaron  country.  From  Fort  Bascom  the  news  was 
favorable  to  a  start,  at  the  proper  moment,  into  the  Washita 
country.  Instructions  were  also  issued  to  the  commanding 
officers  of  posts  along  the  railroad.  This  completed  the  prepara- 
tions  for  the  campaign. 

The  Commanding  General  now  announced  to  his  military 
family  that  the  time  had  arrived  to  leave  for  the  front,  and  all 
should  be  ready  to  set  out  at  a  moment's  warning.  Although 
preparations,  with  a  view  to  personal  comfort,  had  been  going 
on  for  several  weeks,  the  prospect  of  an  immediate  departure 
occasioned  considerable  excitement  and  hurry  to  accomplish  in 
the  shortest  space,  many  things  that  had  been  delayed. 

The  novelty  and  severity  of  a  campaign  in  a  wild  and  unset 
tled  country,  and  in  the  midst  of  winter,  required  no  little  judg 
ment  in  getting  up  a  suitable  "  outfit."  A  couple  of  good  horses 
and  equipments,  warm  clothing,  buffalo  robes,  and  blankets  for 
sleeping,  a  good  rifle,  a  brace  of  pistols,  plenty  of  ammunition, 
and  the  luxury  of  a  pipe  and  tobacco,  were  provided  specially 
for  the  campaign.  Supplies  for  the  mess,  which  was  composed 
of  the  Commanding  General,  the  officers  of  his  staff,  and  the 
writer,  were  also  looked  after  by  the  cook. 

The  fourteenth  of  November  witnessed  a  stirring  scene  at 
Fort  Hays.  The  day  following  having  been  fixed  to  join  the 
column,  already  in  motion  south  of  the  Arkansas,  Lebo's  com 
pany  of  the  10th  cavalry  as  escort,  Pepoon's  (Forsyth's)  scouts, 
the  orderlies,  Indians,  baggage,  headquarters  train,  and  extra 


OK  THE  BORDERS.  *<* 

horses,  were  ordered  to  be  in  readiness  to  move  in  advance, 
First  Lieutenant  Thomas  0.  Lebo,  commanding.  Lebo,  with 
his  assorted  charge,  set  out  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The 
remainder  of  the  day  was  well  disposed  of,  by  our  party  at  the 
fort,  in  making  final  preparations. 


fcg  SlIERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XV. 

DEPARTURE  FOR  THE  SEAT  OP  WAR  IN  THE  SOUTH — MULE  DRIVING  AS  AN  ART — 

ARRIVAL  AT  FORT  DODGE — CAMP  SOUTH  OF  THE  ARKANSAS — 

BLUFF  CREEK— LETTERS  FOR  HOME. 

Y  daylight,  on  the  morning  of  November  15,  the  officers 
of  the  garrison,  at  Fort  Hays,  were  astir  to  witness  the 
departure  of  the  Commanding  General  and  party  for 
the  field.  At  seven  o'clock  two  ambulances,  and  a  light 
baggage-wagon,  each  drawn  by  four  mules,  pulled  up 
in  front  of  the  General's  quarters.  The  personal  baggage,  blan 
kets,  and  buffalo  robes,  were  stowed  away  in  the  wagon  and 
started  in  advance. 

An  hour  later  the  General,  the  members  of  the  staff,  and  the 
writer  took  seats  in  the  two  ambulances,  and  after  an  interchange 
of  farewells  with  the  officers  of  the  post,  set  out  on  the  journey. 

It  would  have  been  difficult  to  have  designed  a  more  dis 
agreeable  day.  It  had  rained  heavily  all  night.  In  the 
morning  the  air  was  filled  with  a  heavy  penetrating  mist.  A 
strong  wind  was  blowing  from  the  north,  adding  to  the  driving 
moisture  an  almost  freezing  temperature. 

By  ten  o'clock  we  reached  the  Smoky  Hill  river,  twelve 
miles  distant,  and  by  noon  the  Big  Timbers  eight  miles  further. 
At  the  latter  point  Lieutenant  Tayler,  with  the  staff  horses, 
and  an  escort  of  twenty  men,  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  Gene 
ral.  Several  of  the  staff  finding  the  ambulances  so  utterly  com 
fortless,  mounted  and  galloped  ahead. 

We  had  still  twenty  miles  further  to  make  before  reaching 
camp.  The  storm  grew  more  violent.  The  mist  had  turned 
into  a  heavy  rain  and  aided  by  the  wind,  pelted  against  the  am 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  89 

bulances  in  a  nowise  encouraging  manner.  The  trails,  consid 
erably  cut  up  by  the  numerous  trains  which  had  passed  over 
them,  were  heavy  and  soon  exhausted  the  animals.  Our  "  team  " 
showed  very  evident  signs  of  being  "  played  out."  The  art  of 
effective  mule  driving  consists,  at  all  times,  of  a  liberal  allowance 
of  raw  hide,  applied  with  tornadoes  of  epithets,  given  with  a 
variety  of  expression  and  accent.  These  usually  satisfactory 
measures  were  totally  inoperative  in  our  case.  The  driver,  a 
powerful  robust  man,  with  an  excellent  pulmonary  development, 
and  a  powerful  leverage  in  the  whip-hand,  gave  up  in  complete 
despair.  He  had  not  only  demolished  his  whip,  but  also  his 
patience,  and  by  way  of  peroration  gave  vent  to  a  soliloquy  in 
denunciation  of  "  shave-tails,"  declaring  that  they  were  only 
"  sulky  and  playing  off." 

At  four  o'clock,  we  were  at  least  three  miles  in  the  rear,  and 
no  prospect  of  making  camp  at  a  very  seasonable  hour.  To 
heighten  the  interest  of  our  situation,  the  driver  reported  mount 
ed  figures  in  sight,  but  several  miles  off  the  road.  An  optical 
reconnoisance,  on  our  part,  confirmed  the  report  of  the  driver. 
It  was  certain  the  objects  were  not  troops  nor  passing  couriers. 

I  Our  rifles  and  pistols  were  dragged  out  from  under  the  seats 

I  for  service,  if  necessary,  and  the  figures  were  closely  watched ; 

i!  meanwhile  the  "  shave-tails  "  took  their  own  time,  notwithstand 
ing  the  repeated  emphatic  and  artistic  declamations  of  the  driver. 
The  predicament  in  which  we  found  ourselves  was  anything 
but  consoling  Night  coming  on,  far  in  the  rear  of  the  rest  of 
the  little  command,  and  Indians  evidently  awaiting  a  chance  to 
pounce  upon  us.  Our  anxiety  was,  however,  allayed  by  the 

i  iarrival  of  a  detachment  from  the  front,  sent  to  our  relief.  With 
;the  assistance  of  a  periodic  probing  with  sabres,  executed  by 
troopers  galloping  abreast  each  mule,  we  managed  to  worry  the 
animala  into  a  run,  which  was  kept  up  by  constant  applications 
of  the  same  argument,  and  shouting  and  yelling  like  so  many 
savages.  The  Indians  at  a  distance,  who  appeared  to  be  watch 
ing  our  movements,  vanished  upon  the  arrival  of  the  escort. 
!  About  an  hour  after  dark,  we  rejoined  the  rest  of  the  party 


90  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

on  the  banks  of  the  North  Fork  of  the  Pawnee.  Owing  to  the 
severe  weather,  the  train  was  overtaken  on  the  road.  Upon 
reaching  the  site  of  the  camp,  great  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  pitching  the  tents.  The  wind  blew  even  more  violently  than 
during  the  day,  and  was  now  accompanied  by  a  heavy  fall  of 
snow.  Wood  was  scarce,  and  what  little  was  gathered  it  was 
impossible  to  ignite. 

Through  the  entire  night  the  wind  howled  across  the  plain, 
threatening,  momentarily,  a  demolition  of  our  canvass  walls. 
Our  situation  was  decidedly  comfortless,  and,  as  introductory 
to  a  campaign  of  indefinite  duration,  presented  anything  but 
the  most  flattering  anticipations  of  bodily  comfort.  Our  tents 
had  been  pitched  hastily,  and  flapped,  and  groaned,  and  jerked 
the  livelong  night.  The  ground  was  wet.  The  men  and  ani 
mals  without  shelter  were  severely  tried.  There  was  no  sleep 
in  camp  that  night. 

It  was  with  every  sense  of  gratitude  that  we  arose,  on  the 
following  morning,  to  find  a  cloudless  sky.  The  wind  -was  still 
at  its  height.  The  air  was  cold  and  bracing,  and  the  roads 
frozen.  Our  animals,  exhilirated  by  the  freshness  of  the  at 
mosphere,  were  in  much  better  spirits  than  was  anticipated, 
and  made  good  progress.  The  train,  however,  moving  less 
rapidly,  it  was  found  could  not  make  Fort  Dodge  the  same 
night.  Orders  were,  accordingly,  sent  back  to  divide  the  march 
so  as  to  arrive  the  following  morning.  The  General  and  party 
pushed  ahead,  arriving  at  Dodge  at  four  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  making  over  forty  miles  our  day's  journey. 

At  the  Fort,  we  were  received  with  unbounded  hospitality. 
The  commandant,  Major  Sheridan,  and  Lieutenant  Read,  adju 
tant,  opened  their  quarters.  The  courtesy  was  the  more  appre 
ciated  by  way  of  contrast  with  our  experience  the  night  before. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  train  arrived  at  the 
fort.  Some  of  the  animals  were  entirely  "  used  up."  A  few 
hours  were  taken  for  rest,  securing  fresh  mules,  and  drawing 
rations,  with  instructions  to  be  ready  to  move  by  one  o'clock. 

The  fort  was  built  upon  low  ground,  immediately  upon  the 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  91 

banks  of  the  Arkansas.  A  range  of  high  bluffs  completely 
enveloped  it  on  the  land  side,  while  the  river,  nearly  a  mile  in 
width,  ran  in  front.  Beyond,  stretched  an  expansive  plain,  and 
still  further  on,  a  range  of  bald  hills.  The  work  was  not  only 
badly  located,  but,  in  case  of  attack,  would  be  difficult  to  de 
fend.  Shortly  before  our  arrival,  four  or  five  warriors  rode 
directly  through  the  fort,  shooting  one  soldier,  and  making  their 
exit  in  safety.  The  country  in  the  vicinity  admitted  of  a  close 
approach  under  cover. 

The  fort  was  built  about  the  year  1864,  but  for  what  object, 
except  for  the  sake  of  having  a  garrison  in  that  region,  would 
be  difficult  to  surmise.  There  is  no  wood  within  miles  of  the 
place,  and  no  other  recommendation  save  an  excellent  variety 
of  building  stone. 

As  we  were  now  about  penetrating  the  country  infested  by 
numerous  bands  of  savages,  liable,  at  any  moment,  to  make  a 
dash,  our  movements  were  more  compact.  The  advance  was 
led  by  the  Indian  guides,  who  were  to  act  as  trailers.  Their 
keen  sight  and  knowledge  of  the  habits  of  their  race  admirably 
adapted  them  for  this  service  j  and,  feeling,  as  they  did,  that  their 
"  hair"  would  be  subject  to  the  same  tonsorial  manipulation  as 
our  own,  were  they  caught,  their  vigilance  was  unsparing.  The 
scouts,  under  Pepoon,  acted  as  advance  guard.  Next  came  the 
train — about  twenty  wagons — and  in  the  rear,  Lebo's  company 
of  cavalry.  Our  route  was  down  the  north  bank  of  the  Ar 
kansas,  for  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  to  the  ford.  The  crossing 
of  the  river  was  rendered  extremely  difficult  by  quick-sands 
and  floating  ice.  By  doubling  teams,  however,  we  made  the 
south  side  without  disaster,  and  went  into  camp. 

Large  fires  of  "buffalo-chips"  were  built,  and  around  these 
we  found  agreeable  entertainment  in  conversation  and  comments 
upon  the  prospects  of  the  campaign.  No  person  felt  in  better 
spirits  than  the  Commanding  General.  With  his  usual  confi 
dence  in  the  success  of  his  plan,  and  fully  realizing  the 
hardships  and  losses  which  would  necessarily  be  encountered 
upon  those  bleak  plains  during  that  inclement  season,  he  in- 


92  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

spired  in  all  those  around  him  the  same  resolution  and  anticipa 
tions  of  glorious  triumph. 

General  Sully,  with  the  main  column,  was  four  clays  in  ad 
vance.  It  was  the  object  of  the  Commanding  General,  there 
fore,  by  making  rapid  marches  and  long  stages,  to  overtake  him 
by  the  time  of  his  arrival  "  somewhere"  on  the  North  Fork  of 
the  Canadian. 

An  hour  before  day-light  on  the  morning  of  the  eighteenth 
of  November,  the  bugle,  sounding  reveille,  aroused  the  camp 
from  its  slumbers.  The  air,  chilled  by  autumnal  winds,  neces 
sitated  the  exercise  of  no  little  effort  to  induce  one  to  desert 
his  comfortable  quarters  between  several  layers  of  robes  and 
blankets.  There  was  no  time,  however,  for  trifling  with  the 
sensibilities  of  the  flesh.  Shivering  limbs  and  chattering  teeth 
might  be  expected,  from  tint  time  forward,  as  a  usual  morn  ng 
entertainment. 

Having  indulged  in  a  frugal  breakfast,  by  the  time  the  suu 
shed  its  first  rays  upon  the  plain,  tents  were  struck,  and  in  the 
wagons,  and  the  column  ready  to  move.  The  country,  for  a 
distance  of  a  mile,  along  the  south  bank  of  the  river,  was  com 
posed  of  interminable  sand-hills.  The  train  experienced  much 
difficulty  in  getting  along,  the  animals  sinking  in  above  their 
fetlocks,  and  the  wheels  of  the  wagons  cutting  deep  ruts.  Upon 
reaching  the  summit  of  the  first  ridge,  the  country  swept  away 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  a  rolling,  treeless  plain,  covered 
with  buffalo-grass,  and  at  intervals  broken  by  deep  canons. 

After  a  journey  of  four  hours,  the  column  reached  Mulberry 
creek,  twelve  miles  on  the  way.  Here  we  experienced  much 
delay,  having  lost  Sally's  main  trail.  Several  of  the  Indians 
were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre  towards  the  east;  meanwhile,  a 
party  of  scouts  were  dispatched  to  look  for  a  crossing.  The 
banks  of  the  creek  were  very  precipitous,  and  ranging  from 
twenty  to  fifty  feet  in  height.  The  water  was  poor,  A  few 
trees  skirted  the  bed  of  the  creek.  After  an  absence  of  several 
hours,  the  Indians  appeared  upon  a  "divide"  about  a  mile  distant, 
signaling  to  the  column  to  advance  in  their  direction.  Making 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  93 

a  journey  of  not  less  than  eight  miles,  we  struck  the  main  trail, 
which  followed  the  crest  of  the  "  divide." 

Our  route  now  lay  iii  a  south-easterly  direction.  The  divide" 
carried  us  between  two  tributaries  of  Bluff  creek.  As  we  ap 
proached  the  creek,  the  country  became  exceedingly  broken 
and  the  descent  difficult. 

By  sunset,  we  crossed  the  main  stream  and  camped  on  a 
sedgy  island  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  cotton-wood,  which 
furnished  an  ample  supply  of  fuel.  The  bed  of  the  creek,  about 
two  hundred  yards  wide,  indicated  the  flow  of  a  large  volume 
of  water  at  certain  seasons. 

The  main  stream,  at  the  time  we  visited  it,  was  about  thirty 
feet  in  width,  with  sandy  bed.  At  several  places,  a  current  of 
water,  about  six  feet  wide,  could  be  traced  running  beneath  the 
sand,  the  moisture  merely  oozing  through  the  surface. 

At  Bluff  creek,  we  effected  a  junction  with  two  companies 
of  the  nineteenth  Kansas  volunteers,  which  had  been  left  by 
the  main  column  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  Commanding  Gen 
eral.  The  evening  was  spent  in  writing  letters,  to  be  dispatched 
north  the  next  morning  by  couriers.  This,  probably,  would  be 
the  last  chance,  for  days,  to  communicate  with  the  outer  world. 
We  had  now  cut  loose  from  home  and  civilization.  The  op 
portunity,  therefore,  was  industriously  improved.  For  half  the 
night,  in  the  dim  and  uncertain  light  of  the  camp-fire,  seated 
on  the  ground,  with  a  log  for  a  desk,  lead-pencils  were  busily 
driving  thoughts  of  love  and  remembrance  to  those  far  away 
enjoying  the  comforts  of  the  fireside. 


94  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

CAMP  ON    THE    CIJtMARON — BAD  WATER— HUNTING-PARTIES — SUNSET    ON    THl 
PLAINS — A  NIGHT  ALARM — NOTES  OP  WAR  ON  THE  CANADIAN. 

T  sunrise,  on  the  nineteenth,  the  column  was  again  in 
motion.     Our  force   reached   nearly  three   hundred 
men,  exclusive  of  officers,  teamsters,  orderlies,  Indians, 
and  servants.     We  were  now  sufficiently  formidable 
for  any  attack,  except  by  a  very  large  body  of  sav 
ages.     We  moved,  however,  with  flankers  and  videttes,  who 
kept  a  vigilant  look-out  for  lurking  war-parties. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  creek  we  ascended  the  "  divide  "  by 
a  deep  and  narrow  ravine.  After  reaching  the  summit  and  fol 
lowing  it  for  a  distance  of  five  miles,  the  trail  descended  into  a 
basin  in  which  we  found  an  abundance  of  dried  grass,  from  four 
to  six  feet  in  height.  A  small  herd  of  buffaloes  was  started  and 
pursued  by  the  Indians  and  a  few  scouts. 

After  crossing  a  low  basin,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  in  width, 
the  trail  led  into  the  valley  of  Bear  creek,  A  march  of  some 
miles,  over  rolling  prairies,  brought  us  to  a  gap  in  a  range  of  sand 
hills,  beyond  which  lay  the  Cimmaron.  Upon  the  north  bank 
of  the  latter  stream  the  column  went  into  camp. 

In  order  to  take  advantage  of  the  winter  pasturage,  which 
was  found  in  the  vicinity  of  this  night's  camp,  all  the  animals 
were  turned  out  to  graze  until  sunset.  To  prevent  surprise  a 
strong  guard  of  troops  was  posted  around  the  herd,  and  the 
herders  were  ready,  at  a  moment's  warning,  to  seize  the  animals, 
should  a  stampede  be  threatened. 

The  water  of  the  Cimmaron  was  strongly  affected  with  alka- 


ON   THE   BORDERS  95 

line  matter,  rendering  it  unpalatable  to  man.  The  animals 
drank  it,  though  with  apparent  distaste.  Considerable  incon 
venience  was  experienced  from  the  state  of  the  water.  The 
supply  brought  in  the  water-kegs,,  greatly  to  our  inconvenience, 
was  soon  consumed,  leaving  us  but  the  chance  of  being  able  to 
replenish  the  stock  the  next  day. 

At  the  usual  hour,  on  the  morning  of  the  twentieth,  we  moved 
across  the  Cimmaron  flats  to  the  main  stream.  The  ground  for 
miles  around  had  the  appearance  of  a  heavy  hoar  frost,  occa 
sioned  by  the  large  quantity  of  gypsum  with  which  the  soil  was 
impregnated.  The  stream  of  the  Cimmaron  was  about  twenty- 
five  yards  wide  and  a  foot  deep,  with  a  treacherous  bottom  of 
shifting  sands  Rising  from  this  basin  the  surface  became  hard, 
and  a  fine  trail  for  the  wagons  was  found  tending  in  a  south 
easterly  direction. 

During  the  afternoon,  the  chief  of  the  Indian  trailers,  in  the 
presence  of  his  warriors,  formally  took  the  war-path.  The  col 
umn  was  moving  along  at  a  steady  gait.  The  Indians,  riding 
about  a  mile  in  advance,  suddenly  left  their  position  and 
galloped  to  the  top  of  a  cone-shaped  mountain,  some  distance 
out  of  the  direction  of  the  trail.  Here  they  dismounted,  and 
after  smoking  and  observing  other  necessary  forms,  the  chief, 
who  was  known  as  Sam  Johnson,  gave  his  own  name  to  the 
mountain,  and  assumed  the  pretentious  title  of  Big  Wolf,  which 
was  to  express  the  cunning  he  expected  henceforth  to  display 
when  he  encountered  any  of  his  red  enemies. 

This  night  the  column  went  into  camp  on  an  island,  in  the 
Beaver  river,  near  the  mouth  of  Trout  creek.  Headquarters' 
tents  were  pitched  beneath  the  overshadowing  branches  of  an 
immense  cotton-wood.  The  camp  furnished  an  abundant  sup 
ply  of  excellent  water.  In  the  expansive  valley,  which  spread 
out  from  the  south  side  of  the  Beaver,  several  small  herds  of 
buffaloes  were  seen  grazing  apparently  unsuspicious  of  our 
presence.  Hunting-parties  were  allowed  to  leave  camp  in  pur 
suit,  in  hopes  of  bringing  in  a  supply  of  fresh  meat,  which  was 
very  much  needed,  especially  for  the  men. 


96  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

As  the  parties  were  leaving,  the  Commanding  General  and 
the  writer  strolled  about  a  mile  from  camp,  to  a  high  knoll,  from 
which  a  fine  view  could  be  had  of  the  chase.  Under  cover  of 
a  skirt  of  timber  alon-g  the  banks  of  the  creek,  the  hunters  suc 
ceeded  in  closely  approaching  a  herd.  Suddenly  the  hunters 
emerged  from  the  timber  and  high  grass  and  dashed  forward. 
The  buffiloes,  bewildered  at  this  unexpected  visitation,  stood  for 
a  moment  as  if  to  satisfy  themselves,  and  then  set  off  at  a  rapid 
gallop,  the  Writers  in  hot  chase  after  them.  The  race  lasted  for 
at  least  fifteen  minutes,  when  two  of  the  herd  were  seen  to  drop 
behind  wounded,  and  were  soon  dispatched.  While  the  suc 
cessful  hunters  were  attending  to  the  "  meat "  they  had  taken, 
the  others  were  to  be  seen,  scattered  in  all  directions,  galloping 
hither  and  thither,  each  one  bent  upon  some  choice  animal  he 
had  cut  off. 

While  still  observing  the  graceful  evolutions  and  caracoling 
of  the  buffalo  hunters,  our  attention  was  attracted  to  the  sun, 
which  was  about  disappearing  behind  a  distant  range  of  low 
hills.  Nowhere,  except  perhaps  within  the  tropics,  is  the  daily 
exit  of  the  great  luminary  characterized  by  greater  splendor 
than  upon  the  extensive  plains  of  the  west.  Our  position  was 
such  as  to  afford  a  rare  opportunity  to  take  in  all  the  varied 
changes  of  beauty,  as  the  effulgent  orb  descended  from  its  path 
in  space  into  the  apparent  bosom  of  the  earth.  From  the  knoll 
which  we  occupied,  the  vast  low  lands  of  the  Beaver  spread 
around  in  all  directions.  The  silvery  waters  of  the  river,  wind 
ing  in  graceful  curves,  coursed  through  the  valley.  Upon  its 
banks  the  buffalo,  the  deer,  and  the  wolf  found  an  undisturbed 
existence.  Along  the  line  of  the  horizon  stretched  a  range  of 
hills,  encircling  the  valley  almost  completely,  while  the  inter 
mediate  gentle  undulations  broke  the  monotony  of  a  rigid  plain 
The  grasses,  robbed  of  their  vitality  by  the  biting  frosts  of 
autumn,  covered  the  surface  with  a  carpet  of  sombre  tinge,  inter 
mixed  here  and  there  with  patches  of  different  varieties  and 
varied  tints.  A  few  towering  trees  or  a  dense  underbrush  grew 
now  and  then  along  the  stream.  The  pure  blue  of  the  great 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  97 

dome  of  nature  spread  in  sublime  expanse  overhead.  In  the 
west  the  sun  threw  out  a  parting  glare,  changing  the  atmosphere 
from  a  colorless  waste  to  a  vast  etherial  sea  of  gold.  The  effect 
was  indescribably  grand.  All  nature  seemed  to  glow  with  sur 
passing  brightness.  The  heavens  were  illuminated  with  great 
lines  of  light,  diverging  from  a  common  centre  on  the  horizon, 
completely  covering  the  azure  field  above,  and  shedding  golden 
tints  of  more  or  less  brilliance  upon  the  earth  beneath.  Imme 
diately  surrounding  the  sun  itself  were  masses  of  vapor  in  every 
form.  The  evening  mists  -at  first  slowly  gathering,  formed  in 
masses  from  leaden  banks  to  pearly  films.  A  fringe  of  gold 
and  silver  and  purple,  in  graceful  and  ever-changing  outline, 
bordered  the  beautiful  folds  of  this  vaporous  curtain,  gradually 
dropping  around  the  last  moments  of  the  vanishing  grandeur  of 
day.  From  golden  tints  the  atmosphere  suddenly  became  of 
crimson  hue,  and  a  moment  more  the  mantle  of  night  covered 
the  face  of  nature  in  silent  darkness. 

Returning  to  camp  before  total  darkness  set  in,  while  crass- 
ing  the  dry  bed  of  one  of  the  channels  of  the  Beaver,  we  dis 
covered  a  distinctly  defined  lodge-pole  trail  and  pony  tracks. 
It  was  certain  these  indications  were  not  there  when  we  passed 
out,  and  the  conclusion  was  natural  that  during  our  absence  a 
small  party  of  Indians  had  crossed  between  us  and  the  camp, 
and  under  cover  of  the  banks  of  the  stream. 

The  same  night,  an  hour  after  retiring,  the  stillness  which 
prevailed  was  suddenly  disturbed  by  several  shots  fired  in  rapid 
succession.  In  a  moment  the  bugles  sounded  the  alarm  and 
called  the  troopers  to  arms.  The  picket  reported  seeing  in  the 
shadow  of  a  tree  a  mounted  figure  approaching  stealthily.  He 
challenged  and  received  no  answer,  though  the  moving  figure 
halted.  After  a  few  moments  the  figure  again  advanced,  and 
still  keeping  in  the  shade  was  now  within  twenty- five  yards. 
Instantly  the  trooper  brought  his  carbine  to  his  shoulder  and 
fired.  Bang,  came  a  bullet  in  reply.  The  object  turned  and 
broke  into  the  moonlight.  It  was  an  Indian  warrior.  As  he 
fled  he  was  followed  by  two  other  mounted  figures,  which  dashed 

7 


98  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

out  of  the  bushes  near  by.  The  three  savages  were  evidently 
stealing  up  in  hopes  of  cutting  the  sentinel  off  quietly  and  thui 
get  into  the  midst  of  the  camp  without  creating  alarm. 

At  the  first  fire  a  detachment  was  sent  out  to  the  support  of 
the  picket.  The  savages  had  fled ;  several  troopers,  taking  ad 
vantage  of  the  moon,  examined  their  tracks.  They  had  evidently 
been  prowling  around  the  camp  in  search  of  some  vulnerable 
point,  and  this,  being  better  covered,  was  selected  for  the  pur 
pose. 

At  another  point  on  the  picket-line  about  the  same  time,  as 
the  officer  of  the  guard  was  approaching  one  of  the  posts,  he 
heard,  in  tolerably  good  language,  a  voice  in  moderate  tones : 
"Are  you  pickets  V  The  reply  was  the  cocking  of  pieces  and 
a  discharge  of  carbines  from  the  picket.  A  small  party,  hid 
den  from  view  by  the  undergrowth,  wheeled  and  fled,  making 
no  little  rustling  of  bushes. 

There  seemed  to  be  no  doubt  now  about  the  presence  of  a 
war-party  in  the  vicinity,  but  as  to  their  numbers  all  was  un 
certainty.  One  of  the  hunting  detachments  which  had  been 
sent  out  during  the  afternoon,  upon  reaching  camp  about  dusk, 
reported  being  chased  by  a  few  warriors,  who  followed  them 
within  a  short  distance  of  camp.  The  General  himself,  during 
the  afternoon,  while  observing  the  hunting-parties,  by  means 
of  his  glass,  remarked  seeing  a  large  number  of  figures  moving 
rapidly  about  on  the  crest  of  the  range  of  hills  across  the  val 
ley.  It  was  then  impossible,  however,  to  define  whether  they 
were  warriors  mounted,  or  buffalo,  though  their  peculiar  move 
ments  were  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  former. 

To  be  prepared  for  an  emergency  an  extra  officer  of  the 
guard  was  detailed  for  duty  during  the  night,  and  a  strong  re 
serve  was  mustered  to  remain  under  arms.  The  officers  and 
men  were  ca^ioned  to  employ  the  utmost  vigilance,  especially 
towards  daylight,  as  the  attack,  if  made  at  all,  would  be  made 
then. 

The  defence  of  a  camp,  and  particularly  a  small  camp,  against 
even  an  insignificant  party  of  Indians  is  a  matter  of  no  little  dif- 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  99 

ficulty.  An  Indian  warrior  invariably  approaches  his  enemy 
by  stealth,  sometimes  in  the  guise  of  an  animal.  By  a  sudden 
blow,  or  a  fatal  arrow  from  his  bow,  he  noiselessly  removes  the 
obstacle  in  his  path,  and  passes  on  without  alarm.  It  has  fre 
quently  occurred  that  warriors  have  stolen  their  way  into  a 
sleeping  camp  in  this  way.  Once  within  the  sentinels  the  wily 
savage  creeps  about  unpicketing  the  animals.  He  now  passes 
out,  either  taking  the  animals  with  him,  or,  by  a  preconcerted 
signal,  causing  an  attack  to  be  made  by  a  war-party,  stationed 
for  that  purpose,  under  cover  close  to  the  pickets.  At  such 
times,  in  order  to  effect  a  stampede  of  the  stock,  an  Indian 
pony,  with  a  buffalo  robe  dangling  at  his  heels,  is  started  into 
the  camp.  During  the  confusion  caused  by  the  presence  of 
the  pony,  or  more  particularly  his  appendage,  the  alarm 
soon  communicates  itself  to  the  other  animals,  the  savage  war 
riors  dash  about,  yelling  furiously,  adding  to  the  terror  of  the 
already  terrified  brutes.  To  control  the  animals  at  such  times 
is  an  impossibility,  and  to  oppose  them  would  be  attended  with 
serious  casualties,  Stampeding  the  stock  in  usually  the  first 
aim  of  the  savage  in  a  fight.  If  the  party  be  small  he  then 
feels  sure  of  securing  his  prey  at  his  leisure. 

At  three  o'clock  the  following  morning,  November  21st,  the 
camp  was  aroused,  tents  struck  and  packed,  horses  saddled, 
and  troopers  under  arms.  The  camp-fires  of  the  night  before 
were  smouldering  in  their  ashes,  and  were  allowed  to  remain 
so  to  prevent  an  undue  exposure ;  but  no  attack  being  made 
at  sunrise,  the  troops  resumed  their  march. 

Our  course  now  lay  in  an  easterly  direction,  following  a  range 
of  high  hills  several  miles  south  of  Beaver  creek.  During  the 
day  traces  of  the  recent  presence  of  the  advance  column  indi 
cated  that  we  were  not  far  in  the  rear.  At  noon  we  halted  on 
the  banks  of  a  creek,  which  the  night  before  had  been  the  site 
of  Sully's  camp.  The  fires  were  still  burning,  and  other  indi 
cations  were  visible  which  set  aside  all  doubts  as  to  the  where 
abouts  of  the  main  body  of  the  troops. 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,   from  a  commanding  emi- 


100  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

nence,  the  smoke  of  camp-fires  was  to  be  seen  at  a  distance  of 
four  miles.  Hastening  our  inarch,  shortly  after  three  o'clock 
we  reached  Sully 's  camp,  and  pitched  our  tents  in  a  sheltered 
ravine  near  by. 

The  arrival  of  the  Commanding  General  was  formally  recog 
nized  by  the  officers  of  the  command  calling  to  pay  their 
respects.  After  dark,  the  baud  of  the  7th  cavalry  visited  head 
quarters,  and  performed  several  popular  airs,  in  honor  of  the 
occasion.  It  was  an  unusual  scene.  But  a  few  days  before 
the  buffalo  and  the  deer  resorted  thither  to  enjoy  the  rich  win 
ter  pastures  of  this  fertile  and  charming  valley — the  melan 
choly  howl  of  the  wolf  alone  disturbed  the  st  llness  of  the  night. 
Now  the  scene  was  changed.  The  former  solitudes  were  broken 
by  the  spectacle  of  war  and  martial  preparation. 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  1Q1 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  SNOW  STORM— CUSTBB    TAKES    THE    "  WAR-PATH  " — SHERIDAN'S  POLICY  IN 

A  NUT-SHELL — BUILDING   A   FORT — THE    VOLUNTEERS    SNOWED  UP — 

RELIEF  SENT— A  THANKSGIVING-DINNER. 

E  were  now  in  the  heart  of  the  chosen  hunting-grounds 
of  the  hostile  hands.  "  The  red  man's  paradise,"  as 
it  was  frequently  designated,  in  view  of  the  abundance 
of  game,  pasture,  wood,  and  water.  We  were  now 
more  than  one  hundred  miles  south  of  the  Arkansas 
river,  and  two  hundred  miles  away  from  the  railroad.  The 
intervening  country  was  a  barren  waste,  traversed  by  roaming 
bands  of  savages,  closely  watching  every  movement  of  the 
invaders  of  their  lands,  and  ready  to  pounce  upon  small  parties 
should  they  leave  camp.  In  his  instructions  from  the  Com 
manding  General,  General  Sully  had  been  ordered  to  proceed 
south  to  the  Canadian  river,  and  to  select  a  suitable  point,  which 
should  possess  the  requisite  natural  advantages  of  a  depot  of 
supply,  with  sufficient  wood,  water,  and  winter  pasturage  for  a 
large  command — the  distance,  south  of  the  Arkansas,  not  to 
exceed  one  hundred  miles.  As  vguide,  there  had  been  secured 
the  services  of  an  old  plainsman  of  thirty  years'  experience, 
familiarly  known  as  Uncle  John  Smith.  Smith  had  passed 
much  of  his  life  among  the  Indians  then  on  the  war-path,  and~ 
had  the  additional  recommendation  of  a  Cheyenne  squaw  as 
the  partner  of  his  isolation  from  civilization  and  the  world. 
The  site  selected  was  suggested  by  Uncle  John,  who  claimed 
to  have  been  the  first  white  man  that  had  visited  the  country 
bordering  the  two  Canadians.  Acting  upon  his  suggestion, 
Sully  visited  the  spot,  and,  after  a  thorough  reconnoissance, 


102  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

found  the  country  to  possess  all  that  was  claimed  for  it.  On  a 
tongue  of  land,  formed  by  the  junction  of  Beaver  and  Wolf 
creeks,  which  formed  the  North  Fork  of  the  Canadian,  the 
army  pitched  its  tents,  and  began  preparations  for  the  building 
of  a  fort. 

The  force  now  concentrated  at  the  Camp  of  Supply,  as  the 
new  post  was  termed,  consisted  of  eleven  companies  of  the. 7th 
cavalry,  under  Custer,  and  a  battalion  of  infantry,  under  Major 
Page,  composed  of  three  companies  of  the  3d,  one  company  of 
the  5th,  and  one  company  of  the  38th  regiments  of  infantry. 
This  force,  with  the  troops  attending  the  Commanding  General, 
formed  an  aggregate  of  eleven  hundred  men.  The  supplies  of 
the  expedition  were  transported  on  a  train  of  four  hundred  and 
fifty  wagons,  in  charge  of  Major  Inman. 

Hardly  had  the  tents  at  headquarters  been  pitched,  than  a 
violent  snow-storm  set  in,  lasting,  with  but  trifling  intermission, 
for  three  days.  At  one  time,  fears  were  entertained  that  we 
were  destined  to  a  snow  blockade,  and  thus  an  end,  for  some 
weeks,  be  put  upon  active  operations.  Notwithstanding  the 
gtorm,  Sheridan,  with  characteristic  energy,  resolved  to  send 
out  a  column  at  once,  in  hopes  of  striking  the  savages  when  he 
knew  their  vigilance  would  naturally  relax,  and  it  would  be 
impossible  for  them  to  offer  any  determined  resistance.  Custer, 
ever  ready  to  undertake  a  desperate  mission,  was  to  be  entrusted 
with  the  command ;  the  troops  designated  for  the  service  were 
the  eleven  companies  of  the  7th  cavalry,  numbering  about  seven 
hundred  men. 

The  very  next  day  after  our  arrival  at  the  camp,  regardless 
of  snow  and  wet,  a  train  was  made  up  to  convey  thirty  days' 
supplies  for  the  expedition.  The  troops  and  horses,  arms  and 
accoutrements,  were  inspected.  But  few  tents  were  allowed. 
A  pair  of  blankets,  strapped  to  the  saddle,  and  the  clothes  on 
their  backs  constituted  the  quota  of  baggage  alike  for  officers 
and  men.  By  the  same  night,  the  command  was  in  condition 
to  move, 

At  three  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-third  of  Novem- 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  103 

her,  the  reveille  sounded  the  trooper  from  his  slumbers.  The 
camp  of  the  "  Seventh  "  was  now  a  scene  of  busy  preparation. 
Horses  were  groomed  and  saddled,  and  the  men  buckled  on 
their  weapons  to  await  orders  to  mount.  By  six  o'clock  the 
bugle  called  the  troopers  to  "  boots  and  saddles."  The  line 
was  formed,  and  the  train  started.  "By  fours,  right;"  "for 
ward,"  was  borne  along  the  line.  The  dark  forms  of  horse 
and  rider  broke  into  column,  and,  led  off  by  their  gallant  leader, 
set  out  on  their  hazardous  mission. 

The  storm  was  still  at  its  height.  The  snow  lay  upon  the 
ground  to  the  depth  of  twelve  inches ;  but,  with  a  determina 
tion  of  purpose,  the  command  moved  out  with  cheers  and  the 
highest  anticipations  of  inaugurating  the  campaign  by  striking 
a  decisive  blow. 

It  was  the  gray  of  dawn.  The  camp  was  buried  in  snow. 
As  the  column  passed  through  the  long  line  of  tents  occupied 
by  the  infantry,  officers  and  men  turned  out  to  say  a  last  word 
of  cheer,  and  express  a  pious  wish  that  "  they  might  kill  plenty 
of  red  devils  and  have  a  speedy  return." 

The  column  moved  out  on  the  plain,  followed  by  the  long 
train  of  wagons.  Through  the  falling  flakes,  the  dark  mass 
could  be  traced  pressing  forward  at  a  tedious  pace,  braving  the 
elements  overhead,  and  struggling  through  the  soft  snow  be 
neath. 

The  instructions  issued  for  the  expedition  were  brief  and 
simple :  "  To  proceed  south,  in  the  direction  of  the  Antelope 
hills,  thence  towards  the  Washita  river,  the  supposed  winter 
seat  of  the  hostile  tribes ;  to  destroy  their  villages  and  ponies ; 
to  kill  or  hang  all  warriors,  and  bring  back  all  women  and 
children."  This,  in  a  nut-shell,  was  the  Sheridan  policy  to 
wards  refractory  savages,  not  only  to  break  their  power,  but 
also  to  afford  them  a  salutary  lesson  of  "  two  parties  playing 
at  the  same  game." 

Th«  Commanding  General  determined  to  have  on  hand  a 
large  amount  of  extra  supplies,  at  the  store  depot,  to  be  con 
structed  in  connection  with  the  new  fort,  and,  notwithstanding 


104.  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

tho  heavy  weather,  sent  a  train  of  over  two  hundred  wagona 
back  to  Fort  Dodge,  with  orders  to  draw  from  the  large  stock 
accumulated  there,  for  store,  at  the  Camp  of  Supply. 

After  the  return  of  Sully  to  the  north,  to  resume  command 
of  his  district,  and  the  departure  of  Ouster,  and  the  supply 
train,  the  force  at  the  new  post  was  materially  reduced  and 
scattered  over  a  large  space.  It  became  necessary,  therefore, 
in  order  not  to  be  caught  napping,  to  keep  a  number  of  look 
outs  posted  during  the  day,  and  at  night  the  guards  were 
strengthened  and  ordered  to  fire  upon  any  approaching  object 
without  waiting  to  challenge.  Reveille  was  sounded  at  four 
o'clock  each  morning,  at  which  time,  officers  and  men  were 
required  to  be  fully  armed  and  prepared  to  repel  an  attack. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day  after  our  arrival,  the  sun 
rose  upon  a  clear  sky.  The  storm  had  passed,  leaving  several 
feet  of  snow  as  the  evidence  of  its  presence.  The  first  ad 
vantage  taken  of  the  turn  in  the  weather,  was  to  concentrate 
the  camp  into  a  smaller  compass.  All  tents  were  now  pitched 
in  close  vicinity  to  the  site  of  the  fort.  As  it  was  expected  we 
would  not  move  for  several  weeks,  the  headquarters'  tents  were 
heavily  banked,  and  thus  rendered  quite  comfortable.  Strong 
wooden  frames  were  also  set  inside  to  strengthen  the  frail  struc 
tures  in  resisting  the  terrific  winter  blasts.  In  the  course  of  a 
few  days,  our  little  canvass  dwellings  presented  quite  an  ap 
pearance  of  luxury  and  taste,  considering  hundreds  of  miles 
intervened  between  us  and  civilization. 

During  the  recent  storm,  work  had  been  almost  entirely  sus 
pended  upon  the  fort.  The  reappearance  of  sun-light,  and  the 
grateful  heat,  imparted  by  the  welcome  luminary,  caused  the 
snow  to  vanish  almost  as  rapidly  as  it  had  fallen.  The  camp, 
as  a  consequence,  was  once  more  a  scene  of  industry. 

The  entire  work  of  building  the  fort  was  to  be  accomplished 
by  the  troops.  In  order  to  perform  the  duty  without  confusion, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  to  be  prepared  for  the  emergency  of  an 
attack,  the  infantry  of  the  command  was  divided  into  reliefs, 
each  having  certain  duties  assigned  to  them.  A  large  detail  of 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  105 

choppers,  under  proper  officers,  were  sent  into  the  woods,  with 
no  other  duty  than  to  fell  trees.  Mule  and  ox  teams,  brought 
with  us  for  labor,  or,  in  case  of  emergency,  as  a  reserve  com 
missariat,  with  the  requisite  number  of  teamsters  and  laborers, 
were  detailed  from  the  train  to  drag  in  the  logs  as  they  were 
cut.  Another  party  of  troops,  under  the  supervision  of  officers, 
was  stationed  at  the  fort,  to  prepare  the  logs  and  move  them 
into  position  in  the  structure,  A  strong  guard  was  stationed 
in  the  timber  and  on  the  adjacent  hills,  to  signal  war-parties, 
or  to  repel  any  attack  until  the  working  details  could  be  rallied 
for  defence. 

The  picture  presented  in  our  every-day  life,  in  the  depths  of 
our  wild  home,  reminded  us  more  of  the  first  steps  to  the 
establishment  of  a  pioneer  settlement,  than  the  work  of  the 
less  peaceful  pursuit  of  war.  At  sun-rise  on  each  day,  the 
bugle  called  the  various  details  to  their  labors.  The  choppers 
with  axes  and  rifles,  were  marched  into  the  woods  under  escort 
of  the  guard.  The  teams  followed  with  drag-chains  clanking. 
From  morning  until  night  the  strokes  of  the  chopper's  axe  and 
the  shouts  of  the  teamsters  rang  through  the  silent  wood 
Immense  fires  were  built  for  the  comfort  of  the  men.  Occa 
sionally,  the  sharp  crack  of  the  hunter's  rifle  mingled  with  the 
hum  of  industry.  At  night,  after  the  hours  of  toil,  the  troopers 
returned  to  camp,  generally  bringing  in  with  them  goodly  quan 
tities  of  buffalo-meat,  elk,  deer,  antelope,  wild  turkeys,  and 
rabbits,  killed  by  the  guard.  It  was  worthy  of  remark  to  see 
the  perfect  readiness  of  the  troops  to  engage  in  pursuits  so 
novel  and  entirely  out  of  their  line  of  duty.  Their  interest 
was  certainly  heightened  at  the  prospect  of  more  comfortable 
quarters  than  the  canvass  habitations  they  were  then  occupying  ; 
and  a  choice  supper  of  game,  in  the  place  of  salt  pork,  was  all 
the  more  ravenously  devoured  by  an  appetite  sharpened  by  the 
day's  toil. 

The  failure  of  the  ten  companies  of  volunteers  to  make  their 
appearance  gave  the  Commanding  General  some  concern.  The 
regiment  had  left  Topeka  on  the  fifth  of  November.  It  was 


106  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

now  nineteen  days  since  it  had  been  heard  from,  and  was  cer 
tainly  several  days  overdue.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  twenty- 
fourth  the  scouts  were  ordered  out  on  a  reconnoisance,  hut  not 
to  extend  further  than  fourteen  miles  from  camp,  in  hopes  of 
finding  some  traces  of  the  regiment.  The  point  at  which  he 
proposed  establishing  his  camp  was  laid  down  by  the  Com 
manding  General  before  starting.  This  was  done,  too,  as  we 
now  found,  with  remarkable  accuracy,  particularly  as  it  was 
without  any  reliable  data.  By  means  of  the  compass,  efficient 
reconnoisances,  and  guides  experienced  in  the  theory  of  trav 
ersing  such  monotonous  regions  as  the  plains,  there  seemed  to 
be  no  question  of  the  prompt  arrival  of  the  volunteers.  It  was 
known,  also,  that  the  rations  with  which  they  had  started  were 
just  sufficient  to  bring  them  through,  and  any  unusual  delay, 
such  as  losing  the  way,  would  in  all  probability  be  attended 
with  scarcity  and  suffering. 

The  same  evening  the  scouts  returned,  having  had  a  fruit 
less  journey,  as  far  as  the  missing  regiment  was  concerned,  but 
brought  in  as  a  sort  of  compromise  twenty-eight  wild  turkeys, 
which  had  been  killed  at  a  "  roost"  in  the  woods  some  distance 
down  the  North  Fork.  From  all  accounts  the  promiscuous 
firing  which  ensued  upon  the  discovery  of  the  turkeys  made  it 
as  "  hot"  for  man  and  beast  as  it  was  for  the  turkeys. 

One  old  scout  observed,  "  I've  a  bin  a  fittin  Injuns  an*  other 
critters  all  my  life,  an'  I  never  seed  sich  a  time.  I  was  a  shootin 
of  turkies  one  minit  an  a  doggin  bullets  the  other  minit,  an  yit 
no  blood  spilt.  All  I  got  to  say,  it  was  lucky  for  the  men  ef 
it  wasn't  for  the  turkies."  A  monstrous  eagle  was  also  brought 
in,  measuring  seven  feet  between  the  tips  of  the  wings. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  twenty-fifth  the  lookout  gave  an 
alarm.  A  scouting  party  was  ordered  out  at  once  to  reconnoi 
tre.  The  scouts  returned  at  dusk,  and  with  them  one  of  the 
companies  of  volunteers  that  had  left  Topeka. 

The  captain  halted  in  front  of  headquarters,  and  reported 
having  left  the  remaining  nine  companies  of  the  regiment  on 
the  Cimmaron  two  days  before,  snowed  up  and  entirely  out  of 


ON   THE    BORDERS.  107 

rations,  and  hunting  buffalo  and  other  game  for  subsistence. 
He  had  been  sent  ahead  in  search  of  the  camp  of  supply  and 
to  report  the  condition  of  the  command.  He  struck  the  North 
Fork  some  distance  below,  and  in  following  up  discovered  a 
trail  in  the  snow,  made  by  shod  horses,  which  he  knew  could 
not  be  Indians,  and  pursuing  the  trail  came  in  sight  of  the  camp. 

The  next  day  the  volunteers,  together  with  the  scouts  and  a 
train  of  wagons  with  supplies,  set  out  for  the  regiment  on  the 
Cimmaron,  and  to  guide  it  to  our  camp. 

Had  the  volunteers  arrived  when  expected  two  columns  in 
stead  of  one  would  have  been  sent  out.  Ouster  operating  on 
one  line  and  Crawford  upon  another,  which  would  have  con 
siderably  multiplied  the  chances  of  striking  a  demolishing  blow 
at  the  power  of  the  warlike  tribes.  This  necessary  delay,  in  a 
portion  of  the  active  operations  contemplated  by  the  Command 
ing  General,  was  not  allowed  to  waste  itself  in  inactivity.  To 
economize  in  the  use  of  stores  almost  every  day  hunting  parties 
were  made  up  and  traversed  the  woods  in  all  directions  in  the 
vicinity  of  camp  in  search  of  game.  The  General  was  the  crack 
shot,  and  usually  brought  in  more  than  his  share  of  the  spoils 
of  the  chase.  The  usual  sport  was  Jack  rabbit  hunting  with 
hounds.  The  General  had  with  him  his  stag  hound  Cynch,  a 
powerful  animal,  and  well  trained,  and  Juno,  less  powerful,  but 
more  fleet,  belonging  to  one  of  the  officers  of  the  staff,  also 
joined  in  the  sport. 

Starting  one  fine  morning  with  a  party  of  five,  we  penetrated 
the  low  lands  and  sand  hills  along  the  Wolf  river.  It  was 
here,  in  the  long  grass  or  knotty  brush,  the  rabbit  resorted,  as 
much  for  protection  as  for  food.  In  the  snow  innumerable 
tracks  were  visible,  leading  in  every  direction.  As  the  hounds 
ran  by  sight  alone  our  party  separated,  and  advanced  over  the 
ground  like  a  line  of  mounted  skirmishers.  After  proceeding 
but  a  short  distance  a  fine  animal  was  started  A  shout  was 
raised,  which  put  the  hounds  on  the  alert.  They  quickly 
scanned  the  ground.  In  a  moment  their  eyes  rested  on  the 
rabbit,  and  in  a  flash  both  set  out  in  pursuit,  followed  by  the 


108  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

party  galloping  rapidly,  so  as  to  keep  in  sight  and  secure  the 
game.  After  a  spirited  chase  of  half  a  mile  the  hounds  over 
took  the  rabbit.  Both  sides  were  pretty  well  exhausted.  By 
a  sudden  spring  old  Cynch  neatly  caught  the  animal  by  the 
back,  which  finished  him  almost  instantly.  As  the  result  of 
two  hours'  sport  our  party  succeeded  in  "bagging"  six.  The 
animals  were  larger  than  the  "  Jack  Rabbit "  proper,  and  had 
a  close  resemblance  in  size  and  structure  to  the  English  hare. 

The  twenty-sixth  of  November,  being  the  day  set  apart  for  a 
National  Thanksgiving,  the  occasion  was  appropriately  cele 
brated  at  headquarters  in  a  dinner  made  up  entirely  of  the  pro 
ductions  of  the  country.  We  were  favored  with  a  good  cook,  a 
burly  Teuton,  rather  slow,  but  possessed  a  compensating  amount 
of  good  nature,  which  enabled  him  to  overlook  a  few  impetuous 
observations  at  times,  particularly  when  his  pans  and  kettles 
were  not  ready  to  be  put  in  the  wagon  in  the  morning,  or,  per 
haps,  the  camp-stove  was  too  "  heavy  "  to  be  handled  just  at 
that  moment.  However  the  dinner  was  not  only  a  novelty,  but 
was  worthy  of  all  praise  as  an  exhibition  of  the  culinary  art. 
I  will  give  the  bill  of  fare  as  I  took  it  down  at  the  time : 

Soup— Wild  Turkey. 

Boiled— Wild  Turkey,  Buffalo  Tongue. 

Roast— Buffalo  Hump,  Wild  Turkey,  Saddle  of  Venison. 

Red  Deer,  Common  Deer,  Antelope,  Rabbit. 

Entrees — Rabbit  Pies,  Wings  of  Grouse,  breaded,  Turkey 
Giblets. 

Broiled — Quails,  Pinnatted  Grouse. 

Vegetables  (imported) — Canned  Tomatoes,  Lima  Beans.  Des- 
sicated  Potatoes. 

Bread — "Hard  Tack,"  plain  and  toasted,  Army  Biscuits. 

Desert  (imported) — Rice  Pudding,  Pies  and  Tarts. 

Wines  and  Liquors — Champagne  "  Pinetop  Whiskey,"  Ale. 

The  flavor  of  the  game  of  the  country  was  remarkably  fine. 
The  turkey  particularly  had  a  richness  about  it  derived  from 
the  hackberry  upon  which  it  feeds.  The  "  thanksgiving  tur« 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  109 

key,"  which  we  were  so  fortunate  as  to  possess,  weighed  thirty 
pounds  dressed.  With  its  plumage  it  was  truly  a  magnifi 
cent  bird.  Indeed  the  camp  was  overstocked  with  game. 
Turkeys,  buffalo  meat,  deer,  and  all  the  other  varieties  during 
the  three  first  days  after  our  arrival  went  begging.  In  fact 
every  one  soon  became  surfeited,  and  returned  to  salt  meat  with 
an  evident  relish. 

While  the  work  of  building  the  fort  was  going  on  those  hav 
ing  a  surplus  of  time  on  their  hands  were  certainly  at  no  loss 
how  to  employ  it.  A  good  horse  and  a  rifle  were  the  moans  of 
a  fund  of  entertainment  of  which  no  one  grew  tired.  The  tem 
perature  had  materially  moderated,  and  the  snow  during  mid 
day  on  the  sheltered  sides  of  hills  found  a  potent  enemy  in  the 
sun's  rays.  The  weather  was  delightful  though  cold.  Camp 
life  on  the  Canadian,  isolated  entirely  .from  the  world  as  we  were, 
was  found  a  happy  episode,  away  from  the  noise  and  bustle  of 
human  strife,  and  full  of  interesting  incidents  and  days  of  ease 
and  amusement. 


110  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XVITI. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  WASHITA. 

'HE  Sabbath  day,  on  November  29th,  broke  beautifully 
clear.  The  genial  sun,  soothing  the  asperities  of  the 
chill  and  damp  early  morning,  was  gratefully  recognized 
in  repeated  exchanges  of  compliments  upon  the  delight 
ful  weather,  and  speculations  upon  the  probabilities  of 
its  duration.  The  troops  had  turned  out  en  masse  to  enjoy  the 
pure  bright  air,  and  the  animals,  herded  in  the  neighboring  val 
leys,  seemed  to  have  broken  from  the  depression  and  signs  of 
drooping  spirits,  which  had  noticeably  taken  possession  of  them. 
The  mysterious  influence  of  the  Sabbath  nowhere  more  deeply 
touches  the  mind  than  in  the  wild  solitudes  of  primitive  nature. 
That  holy  and  reverential  quiet  which  pervades  all  creation  on 
that  day,  there  falls  upon  the  religious  sentiment  of  the  soul 
with  impressions  of  mingled  sublimity  and  awe.  The  great 
volume,  there  spread  out,  opens  new  fields  of  meditation  and 
new  fountains,  from  which  to  draw  strange  lessons  of  philosophy. 
The  primitive  woods,  sighing  in  the  winds  of  heaven,  the  wolf's 
wild  howl,  or  the  mournful  note  of  the  raven,  brings  the  mind 
to  reflect  upon  the  ages  of  silence  that  have  there  found  no  in 
terruption,  save  from  the  voices  of  nature  and  savage  man. 
The  quiet  stream,  flowing  onward  to  the  great  ocean,  reminded 
the  immaterial  being  of  its  onward  passage  to  the  vast  ocean 
of  eternity.  The  savage,  in  all  his  wildness,  the  child  of 
nature  controlled  by  instincts  and  passions  unrestrained,  pre 
sented  the  type  of  man  before  the  doctrines  of  religion  and  the 
institution  of  the  Sabbath  were  seat  into  the  world.  This  holy 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  HI 

inspiration,  united  with  such  solemn  influences,  umnarred  by 
the  vanities  and  anxieties  of  life,  were  appropriate  and  inter 
esting  topics  of  meditation  and  comparison. 

About  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  officers  at  headquarters 
were  surprised  by  the  unexpected  arrival  of  Ouster's  chief  scout, 
known  as  California  Joe.  "Old  Joe"  was  a  veteran  pioneer 
of  over  thirty  years  standing.  He,  exhibiting  an  altitude  of  six 
feet  one  inch,  wore  a  ponderous  mat  of  flaming  red  whiskers 
and  a  growth  of  long  knotty  hair  of  the  same  description;  as  his 
companions  expressed  it,  he  was  "brass  mounted."  Both  his 
hair  and  whiskers  were  well  powdered  with  a  series  of  layers 
of  dust,  intermingled  with  stray  blades  of  dry  grass,  leaves, 
and  chips,  reminding  the  beholder  very  forcibly  of  the  old  fel 
low's  previous  night's  slumber  on  the  bosom  of  mother  earth. 

Joe's  manner,  upon  making  his  appearance  before  the  Gen 
eral's  tent,  indicated  that  he  had  some  agreeable  intelligence  to 
communicate.  His  two  diminutive  blue  orbs  flashing  on  either 
side  of  a  prodigious  nasal  formation,  confirmed  the  belief. 

"  Well,  Joe,  what  brings  you  back  so  soon ;  running  away  1" 
said  the  General. 

Joe  replied  somewhat  indignantly  in  manner  at  the  sugges 
tion  of  running  away.  "  I've  just  made  that  ole  critter  of  mine 
out  thar  get  up  and  dust,  for  the  last  thirty-six  hours,  I  tell 
yer  it's  a  big  thing,  and  we  just  made  those  red  devils  git." 

"  So  you  have  had  a  fight,"  said  the  General. 

"  Weel,  we've  had  suthin ;  you  may  call  it  fittin,  but  I  call 
it  wipin  out  the  varmints ;  yes,  and  sich  a  one  as  they  wont 
have  agin,  I  tell  you." 

While  this  introductory  dialogue  was  going  on,  Joe  indulged 
in  a  preliminary  boring  of  his  optics  with  his  knuckles,  and 
having  methodically  rubbed  the  rasp-like  end  of  his  nose  on  the 
corner  of  a  gunny  sack,  which  he  carried  by  way  of  the  neces 
sary  refinement  of  a  pocket  handkerchief,  poked  his  long  fingers 
into  his  broad,  manly  breast,  and  from  it  drew  a  budget  of  offi 
cial  dispatches  from  the  scene  of  the  fight.  The  General  took 
the  dispatches  hastily,  and  having  glanced  them  over,  read  them 


112  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

aloud.  Our  curiosity  was  satisfied  to  learn  that  on  the  twenty 
seventh  of  November  the  village  of  the  Cheyenne  chief,  Black 
Kettle,  on  the  North  Fork  of  the  Washita  river,  was  captured. 
Over  one  hundred  Indians  were  killed  and  bodies  left  on  the 
field,  and  fifty-three  women  and  children  taken  prisoners.  An 
immense  amount  of  property  captured  and  destroyed,  consisting 
of  fifty-one  lodges,  nearly  one  thousand  horses  and  mules,  rifles, 
ammunition,  horse  equipments,  robes.  &c.  With  this  came  the 
sad  intelligence  that  "  Captain  Louis  M.  Hamilton  was  killed  in 
the  first  charge,  Colonel  Barnitz  was  seriously  wounded,  Major 
Elliott  and  eighteen  men  were  missing,  and  there  was  no  doubt 
had  been  killed.  One  man  of  the  seventh  was  killed  and  four 
teen  wounded."  The  dispatch  added,  that  the  Indians,  includ 
ing  women  and  boys,  fought  with  great  desperation  from  the 
cover  of  bushes  and  grass.  "  Black  Kettle,  the  principal  chief, 
was  killed." 

This  told  the  story  of  "  Joe's "  enthusiasm,  which,  as  the 
General  read  the  dispatch  aloud,  so  as  to  be  heard  by  those 
standing  around,  found  vent  at  irregular  periods  in  gratuitous 
observations,  less  elegant  than  forcible,  and  wound  up  by  the 
old  scout  impressively  wiping  his  nose  on  the  fur  sleeve  of  his 
overcoat. 

The  details  of  the  movement  were  these.  Leaving  our  camp 
the  column  headed  in  a  southerly  direction.  At  the  intersection 
of  the  Texas  boundary  line  with  the  main  Canadian,  and  tend 
ing  in  a  south-easterly  direction,  Custer  struck  a  fresh  Indian 
trail  of  about  one  hundred  warriors.  While  Elliott  kept  the 
trail  at  a  trot,  Custer  leaving  the  train  and  all  tents  in  charge 
of  Lieutenant  Mathey,  with  a  guard  of  eighty  men,  and  taking 
but  a  few  wagons,  containing  three  days  rations,  started  across 
the  country.  Fortunately  the  General  struck  Elliott's  column. 
The  entire  command  now  hastened  forward  at  the  utmost  speed 
the  animals  could  endure.  At  nine  o'clock  on  the  same  night, 
after  an  unparalleled  march,  the  column  was  halted,  but  for  a 
single  hour  for  refreshment  and  rest.  The  march  was  again 
resumed-  In  the  grateful  light  of  the  moon,  which  made  itself 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  113 

apparent  through  the  passing  clouds,  the  column  was  enabled 
to  move  with  certainty  of  retaining  the  trail. 

At  half  past  one,  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-seventh,  one 
of  the  Osage  trailers  returned  to  the  column,  reporting  an  Indian 
village  within  less  than  a  mile  distant.  A  solemn  stillness 
reigned.  The  snarling  wolf,  and  the  accustomed  wild  sounds 
of  the  savage  surroundings,  alone  disturbed  the  silence.  The 
hostile  Indian,  enjoying  a  sense  of  security  in  the  deep  snow, 
which  covered  the  plain,  slumbered  within  his  lodge. 

When  the  report  of  the  Osage  trailers,  of  the  discovery  of 
the  village  was  announced,  Ouster,  with  several  officers,  crept 
up  stealthily  to  the  crest  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  plain.  At 
first  they  doubted  the  authenticity  of  the  Osages'  report.  The 
light  of  the  moon  was  not  sufficiently  bright  to  enable  them  to 
define  the  dark  objects  which  they  saw  before  them.  At  first 
they  remarked  they  were  buffaloes,  as  it  was  an  extraordinary 
occurrence  to  get  so  close  to  a  village  without  an  alarm  being 
given.  Suddenly  the  distant  tingling  of  a  bell  broke  upon  the 
alert  ears  of  the  party.  This  slight  and  welcome  sound  solved 
the  mystery.  The  Osage  chief  repeated  his  words,  "heaps 
ponies."  Ouster,  turning  to  those  with  him,  said  in  a  whisper, 
"  I  am  satisfied  they  are  ponies,  the  herd  of  the  village.  Buf 
faloes  are  not  in  the  habit  of  wearing  such  ornaments  as  bells 
in  this  country."  The  party  now  returned,  and  fearing  that 
the  untimely  neigh  of  a  horse,  or  some  unusual  noise  might 
signal  their  presence  to  the  sleeping  village,  the  column  was 
withdrawn  to  a  distance.  The  men  were  ordered  to  stand  by 
their  horses  and  not  allowed  to  build  fires,  or  even  to  stamp 
their  feet,  for  fear  of  defeating  success.  A  small  detachment 
of  dismounted  men  were  left  with  instructions  to  attack  immedi 
ately  should  the  savages  show  any  signs  of  suspicion  by  issuing 
from  their  lodges. 

Ouster  now  took  his  principal  officers  with  him  to  a  point, 
giving  an  idea  of  the  situation  of  the  village.  It  lay  upon  the 
south  bank  of  the  Washita.  The  Cheyenne  lodges  were  in 
the  centre,  the  Arrapahoes  above,  and  the  Sioux  below,  all  rang- 


114  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

iDg  along  the  banks  of  the  stream.  The  nature  of  the  ground 
as  it  could  be  indistinctly  traced  by  moonlight,  seemed  to  indi 
cate  that  the  village  was  accessible  from  all  points. 

The  General  and  his  officers  now  retired  to  a  ravine  near  the 
impatient  troopers,  and  determined  upon  the  plan  of  attack- 
Four  columns,  composed  as  follows,  were  organized  to  make  the 
assault. 

Right  column — Companies  B  and  F,  Colonel  Thompson, 
commanding ;  Captain  Yates,  Lieutenants  Wallingford  and  Gib 
son,  on  duty  with  column. 

Right  centre  column — Lieutenant  Colonel  Myers,  command 
ing  ;  Captain  Brewster  and  First  Lieutenant  Johnson,  on  duty 
with  column. 

Centre  column — Companies  A,  D,  C,  and  K,  General  Custer, 
commanding ;  First  Lieutenants  Moylan  and  Robbins,  Major 
Bell,  Captain  West,  Captain  Hamilton,  Lieutenant  Colonels 
Weir  and  Custer,  Captain  Berry  and  Lieutenants  Godfrey  and 
Law,  on  duty  with  column. 

Left  column  — Companies  G,  H,  and  M,  Major  Elliott,  com 
manding  ;  Lieutenant  Smith  on  duty  with  column.  A  detach 
ment  of  sharp-shooters  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Benteen  and 
Lieutenants  Hale  and  Cook,  with  center  column. 

The  left  column  was  directed  to  take  position  in  a  timber 
below  the  village,  the  right  center  column  was  to  move  along 
the  Washita  and  attack  from  the  timber  above.  The  right  col 
umn  was  to  attack  from  the  crest  of  the  hill,  north  of  the  village, 
while  Custer,  with  the  center  column,  determined  to  make  a 
direct  charge  from  the  hills  overlooking  the  village  from  the 
left  bank  of  the  Washita, 

In  the  dead  of  night  the  columns  upon  different  lines  of  march 
started.  The  dawn  of  day  was  fixed  as  the  unfailing  indication 
of  the  moment  of  attack.  As  each  command  reached  its  ap 
pointed  position,  it  halted  to  await  the  time  designated.  So 
close  were  some  of  the  troopers  that  the  Indian  dogs  could  be 
heard  barking,  as  if  sensible  of  the  approaching  danger,  PI  ob- 


ON   THE   BORDERS  115 

ably  accustomed  to  these  nocturnal  demonstrations,  the  war 
rior,  in  his  lodge,  gave  no  heed  to  the  noise  without. 

The  hank  of  the  stream  towards  the  village  was  low,  while 
opposite,  it  was  bold  and  precipitous.  A  find  belt  of  timber 
grew  immediately  upon  its  borders,  The  limped  waters  of  the 
Washita  acted  as  a  defence  on  the  one  side,  while  a  range  of 
low  hills  encircled  the  valley  on  the  other.  The  lodges  of  tho 
village  were  visible,  only  as  so  many  dark  cone  like  objects. 
In  their  midst  was  the  lodge  of  the  famous  chief  Black  Kettle. 
As  the  evidence  of  rank,  his  lodge  was  black  and  ornamented, 
on  the  exterior,  in  the  highest  style  of  Indian  art.  The  stores 
of  the  village,  the  herds  and  all  that  appertained  to  Indian 
affluence  were  gathered  around. 

The  welcome  moment  of  action  had  arrived.  Several  hours 
of  comfortless  delay  and  deep  suspense  had  quickened  the 
eagerness  of  the  troops  to  dash  into  battle.  Hardly  had  the 
first  rays  of  the  approaching  day  shot  up  into  the  heavens,  than 
the  solitudes  of  the  Washita  were  rent  by  the  clarion  tones  of 
sounding  bugles,  the  shouts  of  the  troops,  and  the  clamor  of 
charging  squadrons.  The  regimental  band  from  an  eminence 
near  the  field,  joined  in  the  din  of  battle  to  the  tune  of  "  Garry 
Owen."  From  all  sides  the  trooper,  led  by  his  proper  officer, 
hastened  to  the  vortex  of  the  fray. 

This  sudden  confusion  without,  fell  upon  the  ears  of  the 
slumbering  warriors  as  their  death  knell.  The  attack  was  sim 
ultaneous.  The  first  shout,  the  heavy  tramping  of  horses,  and 
clanking  of  sabres  inspired  all  with  life.  The  charging  squad 
rons  came  galloping  madly  from  all  directions  upon  the  fated 
village.  Black  Kettle  broke  from  his  bed  of  robes,  and  in  an 
instant  appeared  without  his  lodge.  He  had  heard  the  tramp 
ing  of  the  horses  on  the  snow.  He  looked  around  him,  and 
witnessing  the  frensied  columns,  fired  his  rifle  and  gave  one 
wild  whoop.  Each  warrior  springing  up  as  if  by  magic,  seized 
his  rifle  and  responded  to  the  yell  of  despair  which  broke  from 
the  lips  of  the  chief.  Some  of  the  warriors  fled  to  the  river 


116  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

and  began  fighting,  at  the  same  time  standing  waist  deep  in 
the  water;  others  took  to  a  ravine  near  by.  The  squaws  fled 
towards  the  high  hills  south  of  the  village.  It  was  as  the  cen 
tre  column  was  charging  down  the  precipitous  blnffs  to  cross 
the  river,  and  take  the  village,  that  Hamilton  was  killed.  Bar- 
nitz  fell  seriously  wounded  while  charging  with  Elliott's  col 
umn  up  the  river.  As  the  fight  became  general,  each  man 
picked  his  antagonist.  It  was  after  this  mode  of  fighting  had 
commenced  that  Elliott,  with  the  sergeant-major  of  the  regi 
ment,  and  a  handful  of  men  started  down  the  river  after  several 
fugitives. 

In  the  ravines  and  underbrush,  the  wairiors  took  up  a  posi 
tion  and  kept  up  a  deadly  fire.  The  women  and  children,  in 
spired  with  the  courage  of  warriors,  took  up  ai  ms  and  attempted 
to  drive  back  the  angry  wave.  Amid  the  fire  and  smoke  of  the 
burning  lodges,  the  crack  of  the  rifle,  the  whistling  of  bullets, 
the  whirring  of  arrows,  the  wild  whoop  of  the  warrior,  and  the 
mournful  wail  of  the  women,  the  conflict  raged  for  several 
hours.  To  lend  additional  fierceness  to  the  scene,  from  the 
lodges  at  intervals,  the  detonations  of  exploding  gun  powder 
could  be  heard  above  the  general  confusion  and  spreading  de 
struction  in  every  direction. 

A  number  of  squaws  also  participated  in  the  fight,  and  were 
seen  firing  with  all  the  energy  and  precision  of  warriors. 
During  the  engagement  Colonel  Benteen  made  an  effort  to  cap 
ture  the  son  of  Black  Kettle.  The  young  warrior  in  response, 
fired  several  times  at  the  Colonel  at  but  a  few  yards  distant. 
Having  killed  the  Colonel's  horse,  the  young  warrior  made  a 
rush  at  the  prostrate  officer,  but  was  arrested  in  his  murderous 
design  by  being  summarily  dispatched. 

Prior  to  the  fight,  one  of  the  Osages  was  in  mourning  for  the 
murder  of  his  squaw  some  months  before  by  a  party  of  Chey- 
ennes.  Every  night  and  morning  he  kept  up  his  wail  of  grief. 
When  the  fight  began,  while  all  his  companions  were  covered 
with  war  paint,  and  presented  more  the  appearance  of  so  many 
devils,  rather  than  human  beings,  the  mourning  warrior  sat 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  117 

mumbling  over  his  grief  in  solemn  strains.  He  was  not 
painted.  As  soon  as  the  conflict  began  in  earnest,  an  Osage 
warrior,  having  shot  a  Cheyenne,  rushed  upon  his  fallen  foe, 
and  in  an  instant  with  his  knife  severed  the  head  from  the  body. 
With  a  wild  whoop,  he  took  the  ghastly  object  to  the  mourning 
warrior  and  threw  it  before  him.  The  warrior  seized  the  trunk- 
less  head  and  in  an  instaut  had  the  scalp.  His  "bowl  of  blood  " 
was  full.  As  if  by  magic  the  face  of  the  sorrowing  warrior 
was  bedaubed  with  war-paint.  Starting  to  his  feet  he  gave  one 
yell,  and  waving  the  propitiatory  scalp  in  the  air,  cast  his  woes 
aside  and  disappeared  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray.  A  few  mo 
ments  after,  the  same  warrior  was  seen  standing  over  the  lifeless 
form  of  a  Cheyenne  warrior.  He  had  discovered  the  murderer 
of  his  squaw.  Stooping,  knife  in  hand,  he  Was  about  to  take 
the  scalp,  when  he  discovered  it  was  gone.  Such  an  expres. 
sion  of  fiendish  disappointment  was  probably  never  exceeded. 
Frantically  gesticulating,  he  fell  upon  the  body  with  the  ferocity 
of  a  beast  of  prey,  and  severed  the  throat  from  ear  to  ear. 
Again  he  stood  erect,  his  whole  frame  quivering  with  rage. 
Once  more  he  fell  upon  the  lifeless  form.  Completely  severing 
the  head  from  the  trunk,  he  took  his  knife  between  his  teeth, 
clutched  the  gory  object  in  both  hands,  and  raising  it  high  above 
him,  dashed  it  upon  the  ground  at  his  feet  with  a  convulsive 
imprecation. 

After  the  fight  had  commenced,  a  party  of  Osages  discovered 
the  squaws  trying  to  escape.  They  immediately  started  in 
pursuit  and  seizing  switches,  gave  the  fugitives  a  severe  whip 
ping  and  drove  them  back.  After  this  exercise  of  authority, 
the  squaws  became  exceedingly  submissive  and  made  no  farther 
efforts  to  get  away.  In  return  they  set  up  a  howl,  which 
was  answered  from  the  warriors.  Hitherto  they  had  shouted 
defiance.  When  they  found  their  families  were  in  possession 
of  the  troops,  their  yells  were  changed  to  mourning  and  they 
seemed  to  realize  that  the  star  of  Black  Kettle's  band  of  the 
Cheyennes  had  set. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  enumerate  the  acts  of  heroism, 


118  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

hair-breadth  escapes,  and  hand  to  hand  encounters,  had  in  the 
conflict  with  Black  Kettle's  warriors.  Each  savage  resolved  to 
sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible.  Each  officer  and  trooper 
knew,  with  him,  it  was  victory  or  torture  and  certain  death. 

During  the  excitement  of  the  fight  the  continued  absence  of 
Elliot  and  his  party  was  not  observed.  Firing  was  heard  in 
the  direction  he  had  taken,  but  supposed  to  be  Indians  signaling. 
When  the  conflict  with  Black  Kettle's  warriors  lulled,  the  ques 
tion  ran  along  the  line,  "where  is  Elliot?  where  is  Elliot?" 
No  one  answered.  He  had  last  been  seen  disappearing  over 
the  "  divide." 

The  alarm  carried  by  the  fugitives,  whom  Elliott  and  his  men 
were  pursuing,  aroused  the  warriors  of  the  villages  which  were 
situated  on  the  same  stream  lower  down.  The  fight  with  Black 
Kettle's  warriors  had  not  ended  when  a  large  party  of  Kiowas 
and  Arrapahoes,  under  Satanta  and  Little  Raven,  came  to  the 
assistance  of  the  Cheyennes,  This  display  of  force  from  so 
unexpected  a  quarter  was  a  surprise  to  the  troopers  and  solved 
at  once  the  fate  of  Elliott.  There  was  now  no  doubt  that  he 
and  his  party  had  struck  the  approachiug  Kiowas  and  Arrapa 
hoes,  coming  to  the  rescue  of  the  Cheyennes,  and  had  been  cut 
off  by  them.  There  is  no  question  that  each  man  of  this  ill- 
fated  band  parted  with  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible,  and  died 
at  his  post.  For  these  unfortunate  men,  there  was  no  possibil 
ity  of  escape.  Their  alternative  was  death  by  some  friendly 
bullet,  or  death  by  the  horrible  torture  which  the  hellish  inge 
nuity  of  the  savage  alone  can  invent. 

The  reinforcements  from  the  other  villrges  opened  their  attack 
with  considerable  vigor*  In  order  to  keep  them  at  bay,  while 
the  troopers  were  still  engaged  with  Black  Kettle,  Weir  was 
detached  to  oppose  them.  The  savages  fought  with  unexampled 
bravery,  in  hopes  of  succoring  those  of  their  allies  still  surviving 
the  fight,  but  without  success.  They  could  not  withstand  the 
discipline  and  bravery  of  the  troopers.  Under  the  supreme 
impulse  of  self-preservation,  the  hostile  reinforcements  fled,  to 
eave  themselves,  their  families,  and  their  possessions  from  the 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  119 

inevitable  doom  of  the  Cheyeunes.  The  detachment  of  cavalry 
pursued  the  retreating  Kiowas  and  Arrapahoes  as  far  as  pru 
dence,  and  the  necessity  of  co-operating  with  the  rest  of  the 
troops,  would  admit. 

The  victory  was  complete.  One  band  of  the  most  powerful 
and  relentless  of  the  hostile  tribes  had  been  destroyed.  The 
captures  were  immense.  Two  white  children  were  released 
from  a  fearful  bondage.  A  white  woman  and  a  boy,  ten  years 
of  age,  held  captive,  were  killed  by  the  savages when  the  fight 
commenced.  In  the  midst  of  the  conflict,  the  bullets  falling 
around  in  a  perfect  shower,  a  squaw,  with  demoniac  fury,  knife 
in  hand,  as  if  looking  for  an  object  upon  which  to  revenge  the 
loss  of  the  day,  fell  upon  an  innocent  captive  child,  and,  with 
one  terrible  gash,  completely  disemboweled  it — the  warm, 
smoking  entrails  falling  upon  the  snow.. 

Three  days  had  now  elapsed  since  leaving  the  train.  The 
display  of  strength  made  by  the  Indians,  caused  a  natural  anxi 
ety  in  regard  to  the  safety  of  the  supplies  and  the  inadequate 
force  left  to  protect  them.  These  considerations  fixed  the  reso 
lution  of  Ouster  to  hasten  back  to  his  wagons. 

While  all  that  was  left  of  Black  Kettle's  village  was  being 
destroyed,  seven  hundred  ponies,  belonging  to  the  late  chief 
and  his  warriors,  were  shot.  Two  hundred  were  taken  for  the 
captive  squaws  and  children,  or  brought  in  as  trophies  of  the 
victory. 

On  the  return  march,  no  Indians  were  seen.  They  wer^e, 
evidently,  in  great  alarm  at  the  just  and  terrible  punishment 
meted  out  to  the  Cheyennes.  Night  and  morning  the  captives 
set  up  their  mourning  songs,  but  received  no  response  from 
lurking  warriors. 

At  the  first  camp  on  the  return,  according  to  custom,  the 
Osages  hung  their  scalps  outside  their  tents  and  fired  several 
volleys  over  them.  All  the  savages  have  a  superstition  that 
such  demonstrations  of  hostility  drive  away  the  spirits  of 
those  from  whom  the  scalps  were  taken,  and  that,  in  the  event 
of  the  neglect  of  so  important  a  precaution,  these  spirits  would 


120  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

come  and  rob  them  of  the  hard-earned  and  ghastly  evidences 
of  their  prowess. 

So  decisive  an  achievement  as  the  battle  of  the  Washita,  was 
not  without  its  sacrifices.  Like  all  other  deeds  in  the  records 
of  war,  victory  and  defeat  alike  close  up  with  a  melancholy  list 
of  dead  and  suffering.  Of  the  killed,  were  Elliott  and  Hamilton, 
and  nineteen  enlisted  men.  Of  the  wounded,  were  Barnitz, 
eeriously  but  not  mortally,  and  thirteen  enlisted  men. 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  savages,  was  one  hundred  and  three 
warriors  left  on  the  ground.  In  property,  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-five  horses,  ponies,  and  mules ;  two  hundred  and  forty- 
one  saddles,  some  of  very  fine  and  costly  workmanship ;  five 
hundred  and  seventy-three  buffalo  robes ;  three  hundred  and 
ninety  buffalo  skins  for  lodges ;  one  hundred  and  sixty  untanned 
robes ;  thirty-five  revolvers ;  forty-seven  rifles ;  thirty-five 
pounds  of  powder  ;  one  thousand  and  fifty  pounds  of  lead ; 
four  thousand  arrows  and  arrow-heads ;  seventy-five  spears ; 
three  hundred  pounds  of  bullets ;  four  hundred  and  seventy 
blankets ;  seven  hundred  pounds  of  tobacco ;  besides  axes, 
bullet-moulds,  lariats,  saddle-bags,  &c. 

Having  no  means  of  transportation,  the  bulk  of  these  cap 
tures  were  destroyed  in  the  village  before  leaving.  Among  the 
warriors  killed,  were  sixteen  chiefs,  including  Black  Kettle  and 
and  Little  Rock,  two  of  the  most  influential  warriors  among  the 
Cheyennes.  Three  squaws  and  three  children,  one  boy  and 
*;wo  girls,  were  wounded. 

The  banks  of  the  Washita  were  silent.  The  charred  remains 
of  the  village,  and  the  stark  corpses  of  the  warriors,  were  the 
only  vestiges  of  Black  Kettle's  band.  The  wolf,  prowling  in 
the  midst  of  the  blackened  ruins  of  the  Indian  lodge,  now  alone 
disturbed  the  solitary  haunts  of  the  once  proud  and  fierce 
warrior. 


ON  THE  BORDERS. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

RETURN  OP  THE  TROOPERS  FROM  BATTLE— A  SCALP  DANCE— SAFE  ARRIVAL  OF 
THE  VOLUNTEERS — A  GENERAL  EXPEDITION. 

COURIER  having  arrived  at  the  camp  with  the  an 
nouncement  that  Caster's  column  would  be  in  that 
morning,  (Dec,  1,)  great  preparations  were  made  to 
give  a  suitable  reception.  Every  one  was  anxious  to 
greet  the  victors  of  the  Washita,  and  it  was  with  con 
siderable  impatience  the  appearance  of  the  column  was  looked 
for.  Shortly  after  the  sun  had  passed  meridian,  a  cluster  of 
dark  objects  appearing  upon  the  crest  of  a  hill,  about  a  mile 
distant,  accompanied  with  shouts  and  the  firing  of  musketry, 
announced  their  approach.  The  mules  and  horses,  grazing  in 
the  valleys  near  by,  hearing  these  unusual  sounds,  stampeded 
in  great  alarm  from  all  directions  towards  camp.  On  the  sum 
mit  of  the  hill  the  head  of  the  column  halted  for  a  few  moments. 
Meanwhile,  Sheridan,  accompanied  by  his  staff  and  a  number 
of  officers  of  the  garrison,  took  position  in  the  valley.  All  the 
officers  and  soldiers,  not  on  duty,  assembled  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  fort  to  witness  the  warlike  pageant. 

The  troopers  now  resumed  their  march,  and  as  they  descended 
!  the  hill,  the  flashing  of  sabres  and  carbines,  and  the  shouts  of 
i  the  men,  were  in  wild  counterpart  of  the  dreary  surroundings 
of  their  departure  a  week  before. 

The  column  was  now  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Com- 

<  manding  General.     The  Indians  whooped,  the  band  reiterated 

the  stirring  tones  of  "  Garry  Owen,"  and  the  troopers  cheered. 

In  response,  rounds  of  huzzas  from  the  troops  of  the  fort  shouted 

welcome  and  congratulation.     In  the  advance  were  the  Osage 


122  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

Indian  trailers.  Before  leaving  camp  that  morning,  they  had 
arrayed  and  decorated  themselves  in  a  manner  becoming  the 
importance  of  the  occasion.  Their  faces  were  fantastically 
painted,  and  about  their  persons  dangled  the  trophies  which 
they  had  captured  in  battle.  Spears,  upon  which  were  fastened 
the  scalps  of  their  fallen  foe,  were  slung  upon  their  shoulders. 
From  their  own  plaited  scalp-locks  were  suspended  long  trains 
of  silver  ornaments  and  feathers.  Over  their  shoulders  hung 
shields,  and  bows,  and  quivers  full  of  arrows,  while  in  their  hands 
they  held  their  trusty  rifle.  Even  the  animals,  which  the 
Osages  bestrode,  were  decorated  with  scalps  and  strips  of  red 
and  blue  blankets.  At  the  head  of  the  band  rode  Little  Beaver, 
the  chief,  with  a  countenance  as  fixed  as  stone,  yet  in  his  bear 
ing  showing  indications  of  an  inward  self-glorification,  which 
was,  apparently,  kept  stirring  and  swelling  higher  and  higher  by 
discharged  fire-arms  and  wild  notes  of  the  war-songs,  shouted 
by  his  warriors.  In  a  moment  of  enthusiasm,  the  chief  ex 
claimed,  "  they  call  us  Americans ;  we  are  Osages,"  to  which 
sentiment  went  up  a  responsive  yell  of  approval. 

Conspicuous  in  this  party  was  the  young  Osage  warrior, 
Koom-la-Manche,  (Trotter).  It  was  he,  under  the  impulse  of 
the  highest  aspiration  of  Indian  valor,  who  singled  out  the  great 
chief,  Black  Kettle,  the  terror  of  all  the  Osages,  as  his  victim. 
After  a  severe  conflict  he  reached  the  crowning  point  of  his 
efforts  and  bore  away  the  ghastly  scalp  of  the  terrible  chief  as 
the  trophy  attaching  to  his  success.  As  a  mark  of  special 
attention,  this  scalp  was  carefully  and  artistically  decorated  and 
hung  prominently  among  the  most  sacred  possessions  of  the 
young  warrior. 

At  the  head  of  the  troops  rode  Ouster,  attended  by  the  offi 
cers  of  his  staff.  Next  followed  the  living  evidences  of  the 
victory,  over  fifty  squaws  and  their  children,  surrounded  by  a 
suitable  guard,  to  prevent  their  escape.  These  were  mounted 
on  their  own  ponies,  seating  themselves  astride  the  animals, 
their  persons  wrapped  in  skins  and  blankets,  even  their  heads 
and  faces  being  covered,  leaving  nothing  visible  but  the  eyes, 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  123 

The  mothers  had  their  offspring  mounted  behind  them,  the 
papoose  being  visible  only  by  its  diminutive  head  peering  over 
the  back  of  its  mother.  As  many  as  three  were  mounted  on 
some  of  the  ponies.  Without  a  sigh,  without  a  glance  to  the 
right  or  to  the  left,  these  remnants  of  the  band  of  the  once  pow 
erful  Black  Kettle,  followed  with  all  the  submission  of  captors. 
Next  came  the  brave  officers  and  men  of  the  different  squadrons. 

The  regiment  moved  up  the  Beaver,  about  half  a  mile  from 
the  fort,  and  there  went  into  camp.  The  scene,  during  the  re 
mainder  of  the  day,  was  that  of  joyous  holiday.  Officers  and 
men  recounted  the  perils  and  hardships  of  the  march  and  the 
battle,  and  exhibited  the  trophies,  which  had  been  saved  from 
the  burning  village.  Ouster's  Sibley-tent  raised  its  cone-like 
outlines  in  the  center ;  on  the  left,  a  hundred  yards  off,  were 
the  prisoners,  the  Osages  and  scouts,  in  front  the  long  line  of 
picketed  horses,  and  the  wall  and  shelter  tents  of  officers  and 
men. 

On  the  night  after  the  return  of  the  troops  from  the  Washita, 
the  Indians  proposed  to  celebrate  the  victory  by  giving  a  scalp 
dance.  Shortly  after  dark  a  huge  log  fire  was  built  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Beaver.  A  number  of  officers,  including  the  Com 
manding  General,  resorted  to  the  spot  to  witness,  in  all  its  wild 
originality,  this  triumphal  celebration.  The  savages  were  seated 
around  the  fire,  uttering  not  a  word,  and  looking  the  personifica 
tion  of  the  denizens  of  some  infernal  region.  Notwithstanding 
the  wintry  winds  sweeping  through  the  valley,  they  had  dis 
possessed  themselves  of  their  blankets,  and  about  their  persons 
wore  the  trophies  taken  in  the  battle. 

At  a  given  signal  from  the  chief,  the  warriors  sprang  to  their 
feet  and  set  up  wild  shouts,  accompanied  by  a  violent  pounding 
upon  an  Indian  drum.  The  young  men  jumped  and  danced, 
and  distorted  their  bodies  in  every  conceivable  shape,  some 
yelled  furiously,  while  others  chanted  a  song  of  triumph  or 
recounted  the  deeds  of  daring  they  had  performed.  They  re 
newed  their  declarations  of  hostility  towards  the  Cheyennes, 


124  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

and  made  vows  "  to  be  buried  deep  under  the  ground  before 
running  from  their  enemies." 

During  almost  the  entire  night,  long  after  the  officers  and 
men,  assembled  to  witness  the  occasion,  had  departed,  the  Indian 
drum  and  the  shout  of  the  warriors  could  be  heard,  borne  upon 
the  still  air. 

During  the  first  few  days  after  their  arrival  at  the  Camp  of 
Supply,  the  captives,  taken  at  the  battle  of  the  Washita,  mani 
fested  evident  anxiety.  They  all  expected  to  be  killed  in  re 
taliation  for  the  atrocities  committed  by  their  people.  At  first 
the  wounded  rebelled  against  all  offers  of  humanity,  in  allevia 
ting  their  sufferings,  and  would  not  allow  themselves  to  be 
separated  from  their  companions,  in  order  to  be  taken  to  the 
hospital,  imagining  that  they  were  the  first  singled  out  for  ven 
geance.  Their  own  camp,  for  greater  safety,  being  pitched  near 
that  of  the  seventh  cavalry,  and  surrounded  by  a  chain  of  sen 
tinels,  farther  excited  their  uncertainty.  To  add  to  this,  the 
soldiers  talking  amongst  themselves,  not  in  the  mildest  or  the 
most  euphonious  tones,  was  construed  by  the  captives  into  a 
controversy  as  to  how  and  when  they  were  to  be  disposed  of. 

In  constant  dread  of  their  fate  the  sister  and  niece  of  Black 
Kettle  visited  the  headquarters  of  the  Commanding  General  to 
ask  him  "  when  they  were  all  to  be  killed."  On  the  assurance 
that  such  was  not  the  custom  of  the  white  people  toward  women 
and  innocent  children,  the  two  squaws  departed  with  light 
hearts,  and  their  report  soon  changed  the  sullen  and  drooping 
spirits  of  the  captives  into  a  high  degree  of  contentment  and 
satisfaction  at  their  change  of  life,  and  particularly  the  abun 
dance  of  food  they  enjoyed.  The  squaws  busied  themselves  in 
a  variety  of  ways  about  the  camp,  while  the  children  amused 
themselves  along  the  banks  of  the  Beaver,  throwing  arrows 
and  pitching  stones, 

I  was  most  struck  with  the  remarkable  fortitude  exhibited 
by  several  Indian  children,  not  over  eight  years  of  age,  and  in 
the  hospital,  from  wounds  accidently  received  in  the  fight. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  125 

From  the  lips  of  none  of  them  fell  the  least  audible  indication 
of  their  sufferings,  yet  their  distorted  features,  and  the  delirious 
glare  of  the  eye,  betrayed  the  physical  anguish  prevailing 
within  their  rigid  exterior.  During  such  painful  operations  as 
probing  and  cleansing  the  wounds  the  little  sufferers  placed 
their  hands  over  their  heads  and  closed  their  eyes,  submitting 
without  a  murmur.  One  little  girl,  with  a  bullet-hole  through 
her  body  on  the  left  side,  sat  up  as  if  in  perfect  health.  The 
vigorous  condition  of  their  systems  assisting  nature,  as  well  as 
human  skill,  in  their  efforts,  soon  found  the  sufferers  able  to 
join  their  friends  in  the  camp,  greatly  to  the  delight  of  all. 

During  the  fourth  of  December  the  troops  of  the  seventh,  and 
a  portion  of  the  garrison,  were  ordered  under  arms,  to  perform  the 
last  tribute  of  respect  to  the  gallant  young  officer,  Hamilton, 
who  had  fallen  at  the  head  of  his  squadron  in  the  late  battle. 
A  neat  coffin  had  been  made  of  pine  boards,  in  which  the  re 
mains,  attired  in  the  full  uniform  of  a  captain,  were  placed. 
The  troops  formed  in  the  vicinity  of  the  tent  in  which  the  body 
had  lain  since  its  arrival  at  the  camp.  At  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  the  roll  of  muffled  drums,  the  solemn  refrain  of  the 
band,  and  the  slow  step  of  the  pall-bearers,  announced  that 
the  remains  were  approaching.  The  coffin,  enveloped  in  the> 
national  colors,  was  placed  in  an  ambulance.  The  long  line  of 
mourning  comrades,  in  reverse  order,  broke  into  column.  The 
squadron  of  the  deceased  officer  took  the  advance.  Next  came 
the  remains,  followed  by  the  riderless  horse,  covered  with  a 
mourning  sheet  and  spurs  reversed.  Then  the  long  column  of 
troops  and  officers,  all  moving  in  measured  tread  towards  the 
grave. 

The  site  selected  for  the  resting  place  of  Hamilton  was  beau 
tifully  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Beaver,  beneath  the  over 
spreading  branches  of  a  few  cotton-woods.  Here  the  troops 
massed,  and  the  body  was  lowered  into  the  cold  and  solitary 
grave.  The  burial  service  was  read  by  a  brother  officer,  and 
amid  volleys  of  musketry  the  earth  closed  upon  its  dead. 

The  remaining  companies  of  the  volunteers  by  this  time 


126  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

had  reached  camp,  and  were  enjoying  an  abundance  com 
pared  with  their  march.  Although  the  command  had  left  To- 
peka  on  the  fifth  of  November  incessant  storms  and  an  im 
passible  country  had  so  impeded  their  progress  that  their  sup 
ply  of  rations  were  exhausted  before  thej  had  made  more  than 
half  of  their  march.  The  safe  arrival  of  the  regiment  was  a 
source  of  relief  to  the  Commanding  General ;  and  allowing  a 
few  days  rest  for  the  entire  command  it  was  proposed  to  set  out 
again  on  the  "  war-path." 

The  troops  participating  in  the  campaign  were  now  concen 
trated  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Supply  Camp.  The  wagon  train 
had  returned  with  additional  supplies,  and  the  fort  was  suffi 
ciently  completed.  The  Commanding  General  was  quick  in  his 
resolution  as  to  the  next  move.  He  had  now  an  abundance  of 
forage  and  rations  for  thirty  days,  and  a  sufficient  number  of 
extra  wagons  for  transportation.  The  horses  and  mules,  though 
numbers  had  died  from  exposure  and  scarcity  of  subsistence, 
were  in  fair  condition,  and  a  majority  at  least  were  equal  to 
much  more  hard  service.  The  men  were  in  excellent  health. 
Cases  of  scurvy,  the  most  dreaded  disease  during  such  a  cam 
paign,  were  comparatively  rare,  and  more  remarkable  than  all, 
colds  and  inflammations,  requiring  hospital  treatment,  were  almost 
without  a  victim.  Under  these  circumstances  everything  was 
favorable  to  another  successful  invasion  of  the  regions  occupied 
by  the  hostile  bands. 

The  seventh  of  December  was  the  day  fixed  for  the  departure 
of  the  new  expeditionary  force.  This  movement,  it  was  also 
announced,  the  Commanding  General  would  attend  in  person. 
The  objective  point  was  Fort  Cobb,  to  be  reached  by  a  circuitous 
route,  in  the  hopes  of  striking  other  Indian  villages  along  the 
head  waters  of  the  Washita. 

To  interrupt  the  preparations  for  the  departure  of  the  expe 
dition  another  violent  snow-storm  set  in,  attended  by  a  terrific 
wind  from  the  north.  All  the  indications  were  opposed  to  our 
getting  off  by  the  time  appointed.  The  snow,  however,  after 
falling  for  a  single  night,  disappeared,  leaving  the  ground  cov- 


ON   THE   BORDERS,  127 

ered  to  the  depth  of  eight  inches.  The  wind  kept  up,  drifting 
it  into  immense  banks,  blocking  valleys  and  almost  the  camp. 
The  air  was  cold  and  biting,  but  the  sky  was  clear. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  sixth  the  General  designated  the 
infantry  battalion,  composed  of  companies  B,  E,  F,  of  the  3d, 
K  of  the  5th,  and  G  of  the  38th,  as  the  garrison  to  remain  at 
the  new  fort.  Lebo's  company,  of  the  10th  cavalry,  was  also 
attached  for  scouting  or  escort  duty.  Two  companies  of  volun 
teers  were  detached  to  act  as  escort  to  the  trains  moving  be 
tween  the  camp  and  Fort  Dodge.  Page  of  the  third  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  post. 

Before  the  bugle  had  sounded  "  tattoo  "  the  same  night  the 
troops  were  under  marching  orders.  Everything  was  ready 
for  an  early  start  the  following  morning. 


x28  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A   FRESH  START — THE   "  OUT   FIT" — INDIAN  PHILOSOPHY — THE   GYPSUM  COUN 
TRY — CAMP  ON  THE  CANADIAN — THE  WASHITA — CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

T  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  seventh  of 
December,  the  entire  command  was  occupied  striking 
tents  and  packing  the  camp  equipage  in  the  wagons. 
The  day  was  clear,  but  intolerably  cold  and  wintry. 
To  break  camp,  with  its  few  comforts,  and  set  out  on 
an  extensive  expedition  in  such  weather  was  not  a  subject  of 
agreeable  contemplation.  But  wind  and  weather  were  entirely 
ignored  in  the  catalogue  of  valid  reasons  for  delay.  Accord 
ingly  at  the  appointed  hour,  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  long 
dark  lines  of  troopers  and  wagons  were  to  be  seen  stretched 
across  the  snow  covered  plain  awaiting  the  order  to  advance. 

The  expedition  consisted  of  the  eleven  companies  of  the 
seventh  cavalry,  ten  companies  of  the  volunteers,  Pepoon's 
scouts,  and  fifteen  Osage  and  Kaw  Indians,  making  a  total  of 
about  seventeen  hundred  men.  The  supplies  for  men  and  ani 
mals  for  thirty  days,  together  with  shelter  tents,  cooking  uten 
sils  and  baggage,  were  conveyed  in  three  hundred  wagons. 
Three  of  the  Cheyenne  squaws  were  also  taken  with  the  expe 
dition,  to  be  used  in  giving  information  respecting  the  country. 
When  all  was  ready,  Sheridan  mounted  his  horse  and  attend 
ed  by  his  staff,  rode  to  the  head  of  the  column,  and  in  person 
gave  the  order,  "Forward."  The  scouts  and  Indians  took  the 
lead,  and  were  followed  by  the  seventh  in  front,  the  wagon 
train  in  the  centre,  and  the  volunteers  as  a  rear  guard. 
From  the  crest  of  the  last  range  of  hills,  many  an  eye  turned 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  129 

for  a  regretful  gaze  upon  the  little  fort  in  the  distant  plain. 
The  rude  expedients,  but  appreciated  comforts  found  there, 
passed  in  quick  review  before  the  mind,  and  then  with  a  last 
lingering  glance  all  was  forgotton  in  the  hardships  and  perils 
which  lay  before.  Even  the  "  robber's  roost "  that  resort  of 
mirth  and  tobacco  smoke  had  to  be  left  behind.  Here  daily,  as 
regularly  as  the  sun  went  down,  the.  campaign  and  the  affairs 
of  the  nation,  about  a  month  behind  time,  were  elaborately  dis 
cussed.  Good  natured  controversies  and  singing  were  used  as 
powerful  antidotes  for  valueless  time,  and  smoking  acted  as  a 
sort  of  mental  and  physical  sedative  generally.  The  day-time 
had  been  devoted  to  the  building  of  the  fort,  or  the  more  excit- 
iug  occupation  of  the  scout  or  the  chase.  Thus  though  hun 
dreds  of  miles  away  from  the  comforts  and  attractions  of  society, 
our  busy  little  world,  buried  in  the  depths  of  a  vast  bleak  sur 
rounding  wilderness,  was  not  the  last  place  for  contentment. 

The  column  as  it  moved  through  the  drifting  snow,  ascending 
the  low  range  of  hills  near  by,  and  stretching  out  along  the 
bank  of  the  Wolf  river,  presented  a  novel  appearance.  In  the 
lead  as  a  sort  of  figure  head  to  the  muffled  and  motley  objects 
which  followed,  was  California  Joe  with  a  crew  of  light  hearted 
reckless  fellows  around  him.  Joe  was,  in  the  first  place,  mount 
ed  on  a  horse  of  that  vigorous  stripe  of  energy  and  constitution 
over  which  it  seemed  nature  had  abandoned  all  control.  The 
skin  of  the  hide  bound  quadruped  was  drawn  tighter  than  a 
drum  head,  over  the  numerous  sharp  corners  and  projections 
which  here  and  there  displayed  themselves.  By  way  of  per 
sonal  comfort,  Joe  wore  on  his  head  a  dilapidated  sombrero, 
with  a  rim  so  wide  that  it  served  as  a  covering  for  his  ears. 
This  duplex  purpose  was  effected  by  a  rope  brought  down  over 
the  top  of  the  head  and  under  the  chin.  This  peculiar  affair, 
taken  from  a  side  glance,  gave  Joe's  head  the  appearance  of  a 
huge  scoop.  In  front  it  suggested,  a  gigantic  telescope  on  a 
pivot.  Around  his  neck  Joe  wore  a  strip  of  red  strouding, 
which  looked  very  much  as  if  it  had  originally  served  an  Indian 
for  a  breech-clout.  He  wore  a  cavalry  overcoat,  the  tail  of 

9 


130  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

which  was  well  singed.  He  wore  on  his  heels  a  pair  of  mon« 
strous  Mexican  spurs.  His  companions  were  arrayed  in  a 
variety  of  styles,  coon-skin  caps,  buffalo  leggins,  blankets,  in 
fact  anything  or  everything,  which  would  aid  in  keeping  out 
the  shivering  cold. 

Next  in  the  column,  came  the  Indian  trailers.  Their  general 
appearance  belied  their  historic  as  well  as  poetical  hardihood. 
The  red  man,  when  he  consults  his  own  inclinations,  is  em 
phatically  fond  of  the  iires  of  the  lodge  and  the  society  of  his 
squaws  and  papooses,  particularly  as  compared  with  the  war 
path  in  winter.  The  warriors  with  us  presented  a  disconsolate 
look.  They  closely  hugged  their  blankets  and  buffalo-robes. 
They  sat  upon  their  horses  gazing  rigidly  at  the  glistening 
snow,  as  if  afraid  to  turn  in  their  seats  lest  some  new  aperture 
for  the  ingress  of  fresh  currents  of  blood-chilling  air  might  be 
opened.  Hard  Rope,  the  counselor  of  the  nation,  remarked, 
before  starting,  "  that  he  was  an  old  man,  and  it  was  bad  for 
old  men  to  be  alone  in  cold  weather.  He  would  capture  a 
Cheyenne  squaw  to  keep  his  back  warm."  The  old  man, 
judging  from  his  shriveled  and  shaking  form,  should  have  been 
supplied  with  a  bed-warmer  and  a  foot-bath  for  the  campaign. 

Next  came  the  scouts  and  troops,  rigged  up  in  every  con 
ceivable  manner.  The  weather  had  dissipated  all  attempts  or 
disposition  to  preserve  a  uniformity  of  dress,  and  it  was  de 
cidedly  amusing  to  observe  the  ingenuity  of  some  in  their  in 
ventions,  especially  to  keep  up  the  comfort  of  the  extremities, 
such  as  the  nose,  fingers,  and  toes. 

Everything  was  cold  and  cheerless.  The  sun  sparkled  upon 
the  far-extending  plain  of  snow  and  ice.  The  wind  swept  vio 
lently  from  the  north.  The  streams  were  blocked.  The  troops 
and  wagons  moved  slowly  and  tediously. 

The  first  day's  march,  was  up  the  north  bank  of  the  Wolf 
river,  over  a  high,  rolling  country.  At  a  distance  of  eight  miles 
from  camp,  we  crossed  the  stream,  though  with  great  difficulty, 
owing  to  the  shifting  sands  in  its  bed,  and  pitched  our  tents  on 
the  south  side. 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  131 

The  journey  of  the  day,  in  consequence  of  the  snow  and 
roughness  of  the  weather,  told  severely  upon  the  animals. 
Thirteen  teams  were  already  used  up,  and  others  were  in  little 
better  condition.  A  detachment  was  dispatched  back  to  the 
Supply  Camp,  with  orders  to  bring  up  fresh  teams  to  replace 
those  which  had  given  out.  The  Commanding  General  had 
determined  to  start  fresh,  no  matter  what  might  be  his  condition 
when  he  got  through  the  march. 

The  site  of  the  camp,  was  upon  a  level  plain,  surrounded  by 
a  range  of  high  hills.  The  Wolf  river  ran  at  our  back,  and, 
beyond,  the  plain  was  broken  into  numerous  sand-hills.  The 
headquarters'  tents  were  pitched  in  a  cluster  of  cotton-wood 
trees  of  enormous  size,  and  immediately  upon  the  banks  of  the 
river.  A  large  fire  was  built  in  front  of  the  General's  quarters, 
which  threw  a  bright  light  over  a  large  surrounding  space,  and 
cast  a  brilliant  glare  high  up  into  the  heavens.  ^ 

This  matter  of  large  fires  in  a  country  inhabited  by  skulking 
savages,  reminds  me  of  an  opinion  on  one  occasion  expressed 
on  the  subject  by  an  old  chief.  Approaching  a  fire,  at  which  a 
number  of  officers  were  seated,  for  some  moments  the  chief 
appeared  engaged  in  profound  meditation.  Suddenly  lifting 
his  eyes,  in  a  sort  of  soliloquizing  manner  observed,  "  Big  fool  I 
white  man  big  fool  I  Big  chief,  me,  fire  so,"  (stooping,  and 
representing  a  very  small  fire),  "  no  one  see  him ;  white  man 
so,"  (extending  his  arms  to  show  the  extent  of  conflagration), 
"  everybody  see  him.  Many  sleeps  off  and  come  and  shoot 
him." 

This  evidence  of  the  precautions  observed  by  the  warrior  in 
preventing  his  presence  being  discovered,  was  thrown  in  the 
shade  by  a  philosophical  savage,  who,  noticing  an  immense  fire, 
said,  "  Red  man  build  little  fire,  and  sit  around  to  warm  his 
body ;  white  man  build  big  fire,  and  can't  get  near  it."  Any 
reader,  experienced  in  camp  life,  can  appreciate  the  force  of  the 
Indian's  observation.  On  the  night  in  question,  a  circuit  of 
four  or  five  yards  was  considered  the  most  convenient  scorching  / 
distance. 


132  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

During  this  halt  the  camp  was  disturbed,  the  entire  night,  by 
the  distribution  and  equalization  of  the  supplies  for  transporta 
tion.  The  wagons  had  been  badly  packed,  and  most  of  the 
work,  therefore,  had  to  be  done  over.  At  three  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  eighth  of  December,  the  fresh  teams  arrived  from 
Camp  Supply,  and  those  broken  down  were  sent  back  under 
escort. 

In  starting  fairly  upon  the  march,  the  Commanding  Gen 
eral  issued  orders  that  reveille  be  sounded  every  morning  at 
four  o'clock,  and  the  column  in  motion  by  six,  or  by  the  dawn 
of  day.  This  order  had  a  double  importance.  An  early  start 
was  always  desirable,  and  was  in  our  case  no  less  so  as  a 
measure  of  precaution.  Sunrise  and  sunset,  or  when  coming 
out  of  or  going  into  camp,  were  known  to  be  the  favorite  op 
portunities  for  an  Indian  attack.  Although  the  utmost  vigilance 
was  exacted  from  the  videttes,  particularly  in  keeping  a  sharp 
look  out,  extra  precautions  were  observed  at  the  times  men 
tioned. 

At  the  hour  designated  the  teams  were  in  harness  and  the 
troopers  mounted.  Some  minutes  before  the  sun  rose  from 
behind  the  eastern  waves  of  rolling  highlands  the  column  was 
"  stretched  out  "  on  the  plain,  and  toiling  along  into  the  depth.i 
of  the  surrounding  wilderness.  For  greater  security  the  wagons 
were  moved  in  four  columns;  abreast  the  right  flank  of  the 
train,  at  a  distance  of  two  hundred  yards,  moving  in  a  paralel 
line,  was  the  seventh.  In  the  same  position,  abreast  the  left 
flank,  were  the  volunteers,  both  regiments  in  column  by  fours. 
A  squadron  moved  in  front  to  oppose  any  demonstration  in 
that  direction,  and  a  similar  force  brought  up  the  rear  to  repel 
attack,  and  with  instructions  to  shoot  all  animals  that  might 
give  out  on  the  march,  and  could  not  be  driven  with  the  column. 
A  line  of  flankers  rode  at  a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off  to 
signal  the  appearance  of  war-parties. 

These  measures  of  precaution,  considering  the  character  of 
the  enemy,  were  even  more  important  than  in  civilized  war. 
Ambuscades  and  sudden  dashes  were  possible  at  any  mo- 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  133 

'ment.  When  least  expected,  an  army  of  warriors  might 
spring  up  as  if  from  the  depths  of  the  earth.  With  their  light 
equipments,  swift  and  fresh  ponies,  expert  horsemanship,  and 
rapid  evolutions,  the  better  part  of  valor  in  our  case  was  to  be 
always  ready  for  an  emergency.  Far  more  dreaded  than  an 
attack  was  a  stampede  of  the  stock,  a  piece  of  strategy  always 
resorted  to  by  the  savages.  I  had  once  the  experience  of  being 
with  a  wagon-train  in  which  the  animals  took  fright  from  some 
unknown  cause.  The  alarm  seemed  to  communicate  itself  in 
an  instant.  It  spread  like  wildfire.  Mule  teams,  with  drivers, 
and  without,  dashed  in  all  directions  over  the  plain  at  a  dead 
run.  Every  effort  to  check  the  tide  only  seemed  to  increase  it. 
The  animals  were  perfectly  frantic  and  beyond  control.  No 
obstacle  could  stay  them,  and  to  be  anywhere  in  front  of  the 
terrific  wave  was  certain  death.  The  alarm  kept  up  until  the 
animals  could  run  no  longer.  The  wagons  were  gathered  and 
formed  into  a  corral,  in  which  the  animals  were  placed  to  allow 
the  excitement  to  pass  off.  A  stampede  of  a  large  train  is  fre 
quently  attended  with  loss  of  life.  To  prevent  any  such  ca 
lamity  as  this  befalling  our  own  column  every  measure  of  safety 
was  adopted,  and  strict  injunctions  were  placed  upon  teamsters 
never  to  leave  their  posts. 

Our  course  during  the  day  was  over  a  high  rolling  plain, 
very  similar  to  the  country  to  the  northward.  At  one  stage  of 
the  journey  we  struck  a  remarkably  peculiar  section,  the  plain 
being  covered  with  a  number  of  hummocks  of  red  earth  and 
gravel,  without  any  apparent  connection  or  system.  During 
the  morning  we  moved  through  forests  of  minature  oaks.  These 
diminutive  types  of  the  giant  specimens  were  perfect  as  regarded 
structure,  and  bore  an  abundance  of  acorns.  The  tree,  for  such 
it  was,  ranged  from  six  to  twelve  inches  in  height.  These 
forests  were  found  upon  the  sides  of  the  higher  ranges,  and 
frequently  covered  as  much  as  twenty  and  thirty  acres.  For 
hours  the  column,  like  so  many  mighty  monsters,  marched  over 
the  tops  of  forests  of  oak. 

About  noon  a  small  herd  of  buffaloes  was  chased  by  a  party 


134  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

sent  out,  and  the  meat  of  two  fine  animals  was  secured.  Aftef 
a  march  of  thirty  miles  the  column  went  into  camp  on  Hack- 
berry  creek,  so  named  by  the  Commanding  General  on  account 
of  that  tree  predominating  on  its  banks.  The  stream  was  in 
significant  in  itself,  but  important  as  the  only  desirable  camping- 
place  between  the  Wolf  and  Main  Canadian  rivers.  At  sev 
eral  points  on  the  stream  recent  traces  of  Indians  were  discov 
ered,  and  a  "  lodge-pole  trail "  was  seen  leading  off  towards  the 
south. 

Traveling  on  the  plains  bears  the  relation  to  railway  travel, 
that  navigation  on  the  broad  ocean  does  to  that  on  rivers.  A 
vast  sea  of  earth,  its  waves  rise  into  great  swells  and  sink 
into  deep  troughs.  To  an  inexperienced  eye  there  is  a  dull 
monotony,  a  sameness,  and  an  expanse  of  vision  which  sel 
dom  varies.  For  days  the  "direction"  lies -apparently  over 
the  same  ground.  No  roads,  rarely  a  stream,  and  a  painful 
scarcity  of  timber.  The  startled  game  sometimes  creates  a 
transient  ripple,  but  this  vanishes  as  suddenly  as  it  comes. 

The  plains  have  few  streams,  particularly  in  summer,  but 
the  configuration  is  wisely  provided  for  purposes  of  drain 
age  by  means  of  valleys  and  ravines,  all  of  which  form  part  of 
a  regular  system,  leading  into  the  main  water  courses.  The 
swell  in  the  surface,  which  constitutes  the  main  water  shed,  is 
termed  the  "  divide."  To  know  the  "  divide,"  and  how  to  fol 
low  it,  constitutes  the  highest  art  of  the  guide.  Here  the  best 
footing  is  found,  and  the  broken  ground  in  the  ravines  is  avoided. 
It  is  wonderful  to  observe  how  the  guides  in  a  new  country,  by 
a  sort  of  intuition,  will  distinguish  one  "  divide  "  from  another, 
and  select  that  which  is  most  desirable  for  the  line  of  direction. 
All  traveling  parties  on  the  plains  use  the  compass.  Except 
with  a  perfect  knowledge  of  keeping  the  points  by  astronomical 
objects  it  would  be  as  impossible  to  traverse  them,  except  by 
some  unerring  guide,  as  to  navigate  the  ocean  without  the 
needle.  There  are  no  roads.  The  trail  of  the  buffalo,  the  war- 
party,  or  the  village,  are  the  roads  of  the  country.  At  points 
wagon-trails  have  been  opened  for  the  use  of  emigrant  and  sup- 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  135 

ply  trains  from  the  verge  of  eastern  civilization  to  the  advancing 
tide  from  the  west,  but  blank  spaces  of  hundred  of  miles  inter 
vene.  Under  such  circumstances  the  perplexities  of  moving  a 
column  of  nearly  two  thousand  mounted  men,  and  nearly  four 
thousand  animals,  may  be  imagined. 

Breaking  camp  at  Hackberry  creek  at  the  usual  hour,  the 
column  headed  towards  the  Canadian.  In  the  night  a  "  norther" 
had  set  in,  and  now  swept  over  the  plain  with  the  force  of  a 
tornado.  The  train  found  great  difficulty  in  making  any  pro 
gress  whatever.  The  temperature  figured  at  10°  to  15°  Fahren 
heit.  The  men  suffered  severely  from  their  feet  and  hands, 
although  a  pair  of  stout  buffalo  shoes  and  a  pair  of  substantial 
gloves  had  been  provided  each  before  starting  on  the  campaign. 
During  most  of  the  day's  march  the  cold  was  so  excessive  tha* 
the  troopers  dismounted  and  led  their  horses. 

The  country,  on  the  line  of  march  this  day,  presented  an  en 
tirely  new  and  novel  appearance.  Immense  quantities  of  gyp 
sum  were  visible  in  all  directions,  cropping  out  at  the  surface, 
frequently  resembling  at  a  distance,  extensive  banks  of  snow 
and  ice.  Specimens  were  picked  up  by  the  way  exhibiting 
every  stage  of  crystallization.  A  delicate  selenite,  composed 
of  transparent  crystals  or  crystalline  masses,  easily  splitting, 
with  the  assistance  of  a  knife,  into  thin  transparent  plates, 
was  found  in  great  abundance.  Several  varieties  of  an  earthy 
nature  were  gathered,  and  again  specimens  of  a  smoky  hue  or 
more  beautifully  colored  with  tints,  from  a  pale  pink  to  a  deep 
crimson.  Other  varieties  closely  resembling  alabaster  were  met 
with.  In  some  forms  the  gypsum  was  easily  crushed  with  the 
fingers,  and  presented  a  pulverized  mass  of  minute  sparkling 
crystals,  while  in  other  conditions,  it  possessed  the  hardness  of 
the  most  durable  stone. 

The  entire  region  between  the  Cimmaron  and  the  Main  Can 
adian,  a  distance  of  nearly  a  hundred  miles  was  of  the  same 
character.  The  water  in  all  the  streams  met  with,  had  an  ex 
tremely  bitter  and  unpalatable  taste.  In  traversing  this  section 
it  was  necessary  to  transport  a  supply  of  water,  taken  from  the 


136  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

smaller  streams,  which  were  found  to  be  less  impregnated  than 
the  rivers. 

The  beds  or  layers  generally  made  their  appearance  on  the 
face  of  high  bluffs,  or  upon  the  sides  of  the  loftier  "divide." 
The  position  of  the  veins  indicated  upheaval  from  a  considera 
ble  depth,  and  were  universally  found  in  extensive  fields  of  red 
earth  and  shale.  An  experiment  made  in  camp,  by  burning  a 
small  quantity,  produced  an  excellent  quality  of  the  Plaster  of 
Paris  known  to  commerce.  Small  deposits  of  gypsum  have 
been  discovered  in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa.  Also  on  some  of  the 
western  slopes  of  the  Cordilleras, 

The  configuration  of  the  country  as  we  approached  the  Main 
Canadian  increased  in  the  vastness  of  its  proportions,  to  the 
degree  of  sublimity.  Bald  hills  rose  on  all  sides,  towering  high 
over  the  plain,  while  the  intermediate  valleys  could  be  followed 
away  in  the  distance  until  the  powers  of  vision  failed  to  define 
the  line  of  demarcation  between  the  earth  and  the  heavens. 
From  some  lofty  eminence,  gazing  upon  the  extensive  landscape, 
chaos  and  desolation  alone  conveyed  the  spirit  and  the  reality 
of  the  scene.  Countless  hummocks  of  red  gravel  and  rocks  in 
every  conceivable  shape,  from  perfect  cones  to  jagged  boulders, 
covered  the  surface  of  the  low  grounds  in  every  direction. 
Not  a  sign  of  animal  life  was  visible,  not  a  sound  broke  the 
awful  stillness  which  prevailed.  Vegetation  was  sparse.  The 
hardy  buffalo  grass  grew  in  bunches,  between  which  seams  of 
barren  red  earth  stared  forth  a  perfect  type  of  sterility.  Owing 
to  the  lack  of  every  inducement  as  a  place  of  abode,  the  tribes 
of  the  plains  knew  the  country  as  the  "bad  ground." 

After  a  tedious  march  of  ten  hours,  in  which  time  making 
but  fifteen  miles,  the  column  went  into  camp  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Main  Canadian.  As  might  be  expected  in  such  a  region, 
the  advantages  for  camping  were  not  very  inviting.  Timber 
was  scarce  and  water  barely  palatable.  The  "norther"  which 
had  impeded  our  progress  during  the  day,  showed  no  signs  of 
being  "  blowed  out."  The  thermometer  had  fallen  several  de 
grees.  During  the  day  a  number  of  animals  overcome  with 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  137 

exhaustion  were  shot,  and  left  a  rich  feast  for  the  half  starved 
wolf. 

From  the  summit  of  a  hill  in  the  rear  of  our  camp,  the  val 
ley  of  the  Canadian  presented  the  same  scene  of  desolation 
witnessed  throughout  the  day.  On  the  north  side,  the  "divide" 
descended  abruptly  into  a  plain  several  hundred  yards  in  width, 
extending  to  the  river.  On  the  opposite  bank,  the  country  rose 
at  once  into  high  bluffs  of  red  clay  furrowed  by  deep  arroyas. 

"The  camp  on  the  Canadian"  will  long  be  remembered  by 
all  who  participated  in  the  campaign  of  1868 — 69.  The  win 
try  blast  swept  mercilessly  through  the  valley,  demolishing 
tents  and  extinguishing  the  few  fires  built  against  the  intense 
cold.  The  night  was  intolerably  dark.  The  troopers  unable 
to  keep  warm,  could  be  heard  through  the  long  hours  tramping 
up  and  down,  within  the  limits  of  the  camp,  afraid  to  lie  down 
for  fear  of  freezing  to  death.  The  animals  without  covering 
or  protection  from  the  wind  suffered  intensely.  All  night 
shivering  at  the  picket-rope  the  poor  brutes  uttered  melancholy 
moans,  but  it  was  beyond  the  power  of  man  to  alleviate  their 
sufferings.  At  headquarters  it  was  no  better.  Fires  were  out, 
tents  were  either  down  or  flapping  in  the  wind. 

It  was  with  a  feeling  of  relief  and  satisfaction  that  the  reveille 
sounded.  The  camp  had  long  been  astir,  for  there  was  no  rest 
taken  that  night.  The  intense  cold  occasioned  a  material  delay 
in  getting  started  the  following  morning.  The  animals  almost 
paralyzed  by  the  cold,  refused  to  move  except  by  beating. 
The  teamsters  half  frozen  were  almost  powerless  to  perform 
their  accustomed  duties. 

About  an  hour  after  daylight,  the  column  left  camp  moving 
down  the  Canadian  a  distance  of  about  a  mile  to  a  suitable 
place  for  crossing.  The  thermometer  stood  near  zero,  (Fahr.) 
The  wind  blew  more  violently  then  ever.  A  dense  smothering 
cloud  of  sand,  started  from  the  dry  bed  of  the  stream,  rushed 
furiously  by.  The  current  of  the  river  was  about  a  half  a  mile 
in  width.  It  was  now  frozen  from  shore  to  shore,  but  not 
sufficiently  to  bear  up  the  train  or  even  the  animals.  To  effect 


138  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

a  crossing  against  such  obstacles,  for  a  time  considerably  exer 
cised  the  wits  of  the  engineers. 

After  some  discussion  of  the  best  plans  for  crossing,  it  was 
proposed  to  cut  a  passage.  A  large  detail  of  troops  was  sent 
to  the  front  and  with  axes  broke  the  ice  in  a  number  of  places 
so  as  to  weaken  its  resistance.  A  squadron  of  cavalry  was 
next  ordered  in  and  with  great  difficulty  floundered  across. 
The  legs  of  the  animals  were  badly  lacerated  in  the  undertak 
ing.  Several  of  the  horses,  riders  and  all,  stumbled  into  the 
water,  but  were  dragged  out  in  time  to  prevent  any  loss  of  life. 
The  advance  party  built  large  fires,  of  "  buffalo  chips  "  gathered 
on  the  neighboring  hills,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  men  as 
they  crossed,  particularly  those  who  found  an  inhospitable  bath 
in  the  freezing  waters  of  the  Canadian. 

The  crossing  of  the  river  occupied  five  hours  and  was  effected 
without  the  loss  of  a  single  wagon,  notwithstanding  several 
were  frozen  fast  while  delayed  in  the  stream  and  had  to  be  cut 
out. 

The  ascent  from  the  Canadian  to  the  high  grounds  on  its 
southern  bank  was  a  labor  of  excessive  difficulty,  owing  to  pre 
cipitous  bluffs  and  yawning  gorges.  After  reaching  the  elevated 
lands,  the  column  progressed  slowly.  The  temperature  kept 
at  the  same  degree  of  cold,  and  the  wind  displayed  no  signs  of 
moderation. 

During  the  afternoon  we  came  in  sight  of  the  Antelope  hills. 
These  hills  consisted  of  several  lofty  peaks,  perfectly  barren  of 
trees,  and  presenting  a  very  peculiar  appearance.  Rising  out 
of  a  high  table-land,  they  were  visible  at  a  great  distance,  and 
have  always  been  used  by  the  Indians  as  land-marks.  The 
country,  in  the  vicinity,  was  always  a  favorite  resort  for  the 
wild  Indian  tribes  on  account  of  game. 

Before  striking  the  Washita,  we  entered  a  vast  basin,  as  ster 
ile  as  that  encountered  north  of  the  Canadian.  The  whole 
country  was  covered  with  hillocks,  shooting  out  of  the  even 
surface,  to  a  heighth  of  fifty  and  sixty  feet.  The  carcasses  of 
a  number  of  buffaloes,  recently  killed,  were  found,  together 


ON   THE    BORDERS.  139 

with  other  unmistakable  signs  of  the  presence  of  the  savages 
within  a  few  days. 

At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  havmg  made  eighteen  miles, 
the  column  went  into  camp  on  the  north  side  of  the  Washita. 

To  old  Joe,  the  expedition  was  a  source  of  great  perplexity. 
The  old  scout  was  specially  "  demoralized,"  and  naturally  com 
plained  more  than  ever.  The  cold  weather  was  particularly  a 
source  of  doleful  repinings.  To  cap  the  climax,  his  horse  had 
given  out,  which  subjected  him  to  the  humiliating  necessity  of 
"  footing  it."  Reflecting  upon  his  former  experience,  doubtless, 
he  never  lost  an  opportunity  to  observe  "  that  it  was  an  infarnal 
country  that  could'nt  famish  a  feller  a  horse  when  he  had  need 
on  one."  After  trudging  along  for  a  day  or  two,  the  old  worthy 
presented  himself  astride  an  old  mule,  which  had  been  aban 
doned.  While  belaboring  the  poor  brute  with  the  heavy  end 
of  a  quirk,  he  did  not  fail  to  extol  the  remarkable  patience  and 
pluck  of  his  new  acquisition,  and  swore  if  he  could  ever  get  the 
mule  "  in,"  he  would  make  out  of  it  the  finest  animal  in  all  the 
country. 

Sheridan  and  Joe  were  warm  and  old  friends.  Ten  or  fifteen 
years  before,  while  the  General  was  in  a  subordinate  command 
in  Oregon,  Joe  reveled  in  all  the  power  and  importance  of  afflu 
ence,  in  such  a  shape  as  the  country  afforded.  In  speaking  of 
those  days,  the  old  scout  would  reiterate  an  inventory  of  his 
worldly  goods  then,  which  consisted  of  ox  and  mule  trains, 
"the  finest  in  those  parts."  He  was  then,  withal,  a  "gay 
gambolier,"  as  he  expressed  it,  and  after  a  long  chapter  of  vicis 
situdes,  at  the  hands  of  fickle  fortune,  "  trying  to  mend,"  he 
came  down  "ka-wollup."  Financially  flat  on  his  back,  he 
struggled  along,  and  finally  resolved  to  leave  the  scenes  of  so 
much  of  frontier  experience  on  the  Pacific  coast.  He  came 
back  to  civilization,  tried  a  new  mode  of  life  for  several  weeks, 
got  into  a  series  of  rows, -and  was  almost  constantly  entertained 
by  the  servants  of  the  law.  The  despotism  of  society  was  too 
much  for  him,  so  he  returned  to  his  native  element,  the  frontier, 
bound  in  the  course  of  his  wanderings  to  Texas.  From  his 


140  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

reckless  and  solitary  sorties  through  the  country,  the  chances 
were  ten  to  one  that  some  "red  devil"  would  suddenly  divert 
his  route  into  probably  a  worse  region  than  Texas. 

The  fact  of  old  Joe  having  known  the  General  "  on  the  slope," 
speaking  a  little  Chenook,  and  having,  in  his  days  of  prosperity, 
"  done  much  teaming  for  him,"  the  old  fellow  had  additional 
privileges  at  headquarters.  These  he  never  failed  regularly  to 
enjoy,  usually  calling  after  dark,  and  seating  himself,  in  due  form, 
on  the  ground  by  the  camp  fire,  lighting  an  old  cob  or  mud 
pipe,  domestic  manufacture,  and  in  profound  meditation,  appa 
rently,  awaiting  an  introductory  observation  from  the  General. 

After  reaching  camp  on  the  Washita,  Joe  made  his  appear 
ance,  as  usual.  He  had  been  missing  for  several  days,  and  a 
curiosity  to  learn  what  the  old  fellow  had  been  doing,  induced 
the  General  to  make  a  few  inquiries.  '« Joe,"  said  the  General, 
"you  have  not  been  around,  these  few  days.  Busy  looking 
after  those  red  friends  of  yours." 

"  No  friends  of  mine,  good  evening,  General,"  remarked  Joe 
by  way  of  response  and  salutation. 

"  Well,  what  is  going  on  ?  you  are  always  posted,"  said  the 
General. 

"  Nothin,  except  I've  bin  havin  a  infarnal  chronicle  cough, 
that's  been  nigh  scuttlin  me  this  two  days,  an  I've  been  a  thinkin 
"that  I  cotched  the  glanders,  an  they  might  as  well  shoot  a  feller 
to  onct  as  to  have  that  bothering  him." 

The  General  hereupon  produced  a  small  flask  of  brandy,  and 
handed  to  the  old  scout  a  good  "  swig,"  in  a  tin  cup. 

"  Well,  it  won't  do  any  harm,"  said,  Joe,  with  well-feigned 
diffidence,  "  but  its  been  so  long  since  I  see  anything  like  that, 
it's  mighty  sure  to  surprise  a  feller's  in'ards." 

The  old  scout  took  his  drink,  without  farther  reflection,  and 
after  a  relishing  smack  of  his  lips,  became  doubly  voluble,  oc 
casionally  throwing  in  a  little  Chenook,  by  way  of  reminiscence. 

Several  hours  after  every  one  had  retired  to  his  blankets,  Joe 
still  sat  by  the  fire,  narrating  his  experiences  and  telling  of  hia 
former  opulence,  to  an  imaginary  audience. 


ON   THE   BORDERS. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

1  TISITTO  THE  FIELD   OF  THE   BATTLE   OF   THE   WASIIITA — RECOVERY  OF  TO* 
BODIES  OF  ELLIOTT  AND  HIS  MEN— FIENDISH  MUTILATION — 
THE   BODY   OF  A  WOMAN  AND  CHILD   FOUND.      ' 

E  bad  now  reached  the  chosen  resort  of  the  wild  tribes 
occupying  the  country  between  the  Arkansas  and  the 
Ked  rivers.  The  extraordinary  fertility,  the  abund 
ance  of  timber  and  game,  rendered  the  valley  of  the 
Washita  an  inviting  spot  for  the  savage  warrior  and 
his  kindred  during  the  inhospitable  season  of  snow  and  rain. 
The  almost  impassable  nature  of  the  extensive  country  to  the 
north  was  in  itself  considered  a  sufficient  barrier  against  en- 
croachment  at  almost  any  period  of  the  year,  and  especially  in 
winter.  Until  the  present  year  innumerable  herds  of  buffaloes, 
driven  by  the  severe  weather  and  scarcity  of  pasturage,  to  the 
lower  latitudes,  roamed  through  the  country  in  ready  access, 
and  hunting-parties  were  daily  employed  in  bringing  in  meat 
for  the  winter  store  and  hides  for  barter  with  the  Indian  trader. 
The  military  operations  for  the  preceding  few  months  had  driven 
back  the  buffalo  to  the  north,  while  the  recent  visit  of  Ouster 
had  alarmed  the  savages  themselves  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
country  had  been  abandoned,  and  the  chiefs  with  their  people 
had  either  moved  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Cobb,  to  take  advan 
tage  of  the  intercession  of  the  officers  there,  or  fled  to  the  Wa- 
chita  mountains,  as  they  supposed,  out  of  danger. 

Our  camp  was  but  eight  miles  from  the  scene  of  the  then  re 
cent  fight  with  Black  Kettle's  band.  The  anxiety  felt  in  regard 
to  the  fate  of  Elliott  and  his  men,  who  bad  not  been  heard  of 


SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

since  their  disappearance  in  the  battle,  and  hoping  to  find  some 
trace  of  the  missing  party,  Sheridan  directed  that  the  column 
should  remain  in  camp  one  day. 

On  the  night  of  the  tenth  of  December  a  small  expedition 
was  made  up  to  visit  the  battle-ground,  and  to  scout  the  coun 
try  adjacent.  By  eight  o'clock  on  the  next  morning  the  expe 
dition  was  ready  to  start.  The  party  consisted  of  the  Com 
manding  General,  Ouster,  several  of  the  staff,  and  four  or  five 
ofHcers,  and  the  writer.  The  escorting  squadron  was  composed 
detachments  of  each  of  the  companies  of  the  seventh,  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Custer,  Captain  Yates,  arid 
Lieutenant  Weston.  Several  Osage  and  Kaw  Indians  were 
also  sent  in  advance  as  scouts. 

The  morning  was  clear  but  cold.  Animal  and  rider  felt  little 
disposition  to  tarry  by  the  way.  A  sharp,  biting  wind  blew 
in  our  faces,  and  it  was  with  rapid  movements  we  hastened 
to  our  destination.  Our  line  of  march  was  along  the  north  side 
of  the  stream.  A  heavy  growth  of  timber  and  underbrush 
skirted  the  bank,  from  which  in  passing  we  started  several  deer 
and  large  droves  of  turkeys,  Away  from  the  river  the  country 
rose  abruptly  into  high  ranges,  broken  here  and  there  by  a 
number  of  bald  red  hills. 

A  ride  of  an  hour  and  a  half  brought  us  to  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  battle-ground.  At  a  distance,  looking  down  from 
a  "  divide,"  which  the  column  was  crossing  to  avoid  a  large 
bend  in  the  river,  the  scene  was  one  of  most  intense  solitude, 
The  sunlight  glistening  upon  the  heavy  frost,  which  had  not 
yet  disappeared  from  the  trees  and  long  grass  of  the  lowlands, 
lent  the  only  charm  to  the  landscape.  The  barren  hills,  the 
wild  and  silent  valley,  the  leafless  and  lifeless  vegetation, 
formed  the  picture  of  desolation, 

We  had  now  reached  the  line  of  formation  taken  by  the  left 
centre  column  in  the  fight.  The  horses'  tracks  were  still  visi 
ble.  It  was  here  Elliott  in  the  darkness  formed  his  squadron, 
and  awaited  the  first  finger  of  dawn  to  hurl  his  troopers  upon 
the  fated  village.  Beyond  this  we  entered  the  late  field  of  strife. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  143 

The  foot  prints  of  the  charging  squadrons  could  be  followed  in 
one  extended  front  through  tangled  brush.  As  we  moved  closer 
to  the  immediate  site  of  the  village,  our  approach  breaking  upon 
the  quiet  surroundings  of  the  scene  of  death,  and  alarmed  from 
their  sense  of  security  and  enjoyment,  fled  innumerable  beasts 
and  birds  of  prey.  Suddenly  lifting  from  the  ground  could  be 
seen  thousands  of  ravens  and  crows,  -disturbed  in  their  carrion 
feast.  The  dense  black  mass,  evidently  gorged,  rose  heavily, 
and  passing  overhead,  as  if  to  take  revenge  for  the  molestation, 
set  up  the  greatest  confusion  of  noises.  The  cowardly  wolves 
started  from  their  abundant  repast  on  human  flesh,  reluctantly 
left  the  spot,  and  while  slowly  getting  out  of  reach  of  danger 
often  stopped  to  take  a  wishful  look  behind.  Retiring  to  the 
summit  of  the  nearest  hills,  they  seated  themselves  on  their 
haunches  and  watched  every  movement  of  the  intruders, 

A  few  yards  in  advance  of  the  first  position  taken  by  Elliott 
an  object  having  the  appearance  of  a  bundle  of  blankets  laid  up 
against  a  tree  was  discovered.  A  large  quantity  of  underbrush 
had  been  gathered  and  deposited  around  to  prevent  disturbance 
or  molestation.  Upon  examining  the  mysterious  bundle  it  was 
found  to  be  a  warrior  killed  in  the  fight,  and  whose  friends  re 
turning  had  given  him  part  of  the  rites  of  an  Indian  burial. 
As  we  moved  along  these  evidences  of  the  severity  of  the  con 
flict  became  more  numerous.  Thirty  bodies  were  found  on  one 
part  of  the  field  alone. 

It  was  very  evident  that  the  rest  of  the  tribe,  and  their  allies 
occupying  the  villages  lower  down  on  the  same  stream,  visited 
the  battle-ground  after  the  troops  had  departed.  Many  of  the 
warriors  left  on  the  field  were  carefully  tied  up  in  two  or  three 
thicknesses  of  blankets.  Some  were  laid  in  the  branches  of 
trees,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  hungry  wolf,  while  others  were 
deposited  under  protections  made  of  bushes.  The  most  im 
portant  men  of  the  village  were  dragged  off  and  buried,  doubt 
less  at  a  distance,  in  some  remote  and  hidden  canon,  where  man 
r.or  beast  would  ever  disturb  their  bones.  Several  bodies  with 
lariats  about  them,  which  were  evidently  in  the  act  of  being 


144  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

dragged  off,  were  subsequently  found  abandoned  on  the  hills 
adjacent. 

Entering  the  space  lately  occupied  by  the  Indian  lodges,  on 
all  sides  were  scattered  the  charred  remains  of  Black  Kettle's 
village.  The  conflagration  started  by  the  troops  had  done  its 
work  effectively.  Scarcely  anything  of  a  combustible  character 
escaped. 

From  the  village,  the  Commanding  General,  attended  by 
several  officers  and  a  small  escort,  rode  to  the  top  of  a  neigh 
boring  ridge,  from  which  there  was  an  excellent  view  of  the 
battle-ground.  The  positions  of  the  Indian  lodges  could  be 
distinctly  traced  by  the  circular  rows  of  pins  and  the  rude 
fire-holes  in  the  centre.  On  the  right  of  the  village,  at  a  dis 
tance  of  less  than  two  hundred  yards,  were  strewn  the  car 
casses  of  the  ponies  of  the  village,  which  had  been  shot  by 
the  troops.  The  bodies  numbered  not  less  than  seven  hun 
dred,  and  covered  an  area  of  several  acres. 

After  the  battle  was  perfectly  understood  and  the  ground 
well  surveyed,  Sheridan  and  Ouster,  accompanied  by  Lieuten 
ant  Hale,  the  writer,  and  a  small  detachment  of  troopers,  moved 
down  the  south  bank  of  the  Washita,  over  the  route  taken  by 
Elliott  and  the  missing  men,  in  hopes  of  recovering  the  bodies. 
The  remainder  of  the  party  spent  some  time  longer  in  the 
village,  and  subsequently  moved  down  the  bed  of  the  valley 
of  the  river. 

We  crossed  the  stream  and  proceeded  down  the  south  bank 
until  we  ascended  a  high  "divide,"  from  which  an  extensive 
view  could  be  had  of  the  surrounding  country.  Descending 
on  the  other  side,  the  party  had  not  proceeded  but  a  hundred 
yards,  when  the  body  of  a  white  man  was  found,  perfectly 
naked,  and  covered  with  arrow  and  bullet  holes.  The  head 
presented  the  appearance  of  having  been  beaten  with  a  war- 
club.  The  top  of  the  skull  was  broken  into  a  number  of  pieces, 
and  the  brain  was  lying  partly  in  the  skull  and  partly  on  the 
ground.  At  first,  it  was  supposed  that  the  body  was  that  of 
Elliott,  but,  upon  minute  examination,  this  was  found  not  to  ba 
tbe  case ;  but  it  was  one  of  his  men. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  145 

Marking  the  spot  where  this  body  was  found,  we  continued 
moving  clown  stream.  Crossing,  with  some  difficulty,  a  small 
ravine,  about  the  centre  of  an  extensive  plain,  at  a  distance  of 
two  hundred  yards  farther  on,  objects  were  seen  lying  in  the 
grass,  and  were  supposed  to  be  bodies.  Our  attention  attracted 
in  this  direction,  we  rode  to  the  spot  at  a  gallop.  A  scene  was 
now  witnessed  sufficient  to  appall  the  bravest  heart.  Within 
an  area  of  not  more  than  fifteen  yards,  lay  sixteen  human 
bodies — all  that  remained  of  Elliott  and  his  party  !  The 
winter  air  swept  across  the  plain,  and  its  cold  blasts  had  added 
to  the  ghastliness  of  death  the  additional  spectacle  of  sixteen 
naked  corpses  frozen  as  solidly  as  stone.  There  was  not  a 
single  body  that  did  not  exhibit  evidences  of  fearful  mutilation. 
They  were  all  lying  with  their  faces  down,  and  in  close  prox 
imity  to  each  other.  Bullet  and  arrow  wounds  covered  the 
back  of  each ;  the  throats  of  a  number  were  cut,  and  several 
were  beheaded.  The  body  of  one  of  the  horses  only,  which 
the  men  had  ridden  out,  was  lying  at  a  distance  of  fifty-yards 
The  other  animals  had  evidently  escaped  and  were  taken  by 
the  savages  when  the  party  found  themselves  hemmed  in  and 
obliged  to  fight  on  foot.  All  the  bodies  were  carefully  exam 
ined,  but  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  any  of  them  were 
recognized,  owing  to  the  terrible  atrocities  to  which  they  had 
been  subjected. 

Judging  from  the  nature  of  the  ground  and  the  location,  it 
was  concluded  that  Elliott  started  under  the  impression  that 
the  village  the  column  had  struck  constituted  all  in  that  section 
of  country.  Three  warriors,  the  only  fugitives,  had  left,  on 
the  first  alarm,  to  arouse  the  bauds  below.  Elliott,  seeing  them 
break  through  his  lines,  started  in  pursuit.  According  to  the 
Indian  account,  which  I  subsequently  obtained,  two  of  the 
three  were  killed,  but  the  third  gained  the  nearest  village  with 
tidings  of  the  attack  on  Black  Kettle's  people.  The  warriors 
of  the  neighboring  bands  hastily  mounted  their  war  ponies, 
and  set  out  for  the  scene  of  the  fight. 

Elliott  was  several  miles  from  the  column  when  the  Indian 

10 


146  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS- 

allies,  from  the  lower  villages,  struck  him.     The  savages  began 
an  immediate  assault,  and  were  in  such  overwhelming  numbers, 
that  he  retired  rapidly,  in  hopes  of  making  good  his  retreat. 
Crossing  the  second  *'  divide,"  before  he  had  time  to  pass  the 
valley,  the  ravine  between  him  and  the  column  was  occupied 
by  warriors,  who  opened  fire  as  he  and  his  men  approached. 
There  was  now  no  alternative  but  to  dismount  and  take  a  stand 
and  prolong  the  fight,  in  hopes  of  being  rescued,  or  if  the  worst 
came,  to  die  together.     Elliott  gathered  his  men  aroijnd  him. 
The  Indians  now  appeared  on  all  sides,  and  with  wild  shouts 
gave  vent  to  their  savage  determination.     An  Arrapahoe  war 
rior,  braver  than  the  rest,  in  hopes  of  inspiring  his  people  with 
courage,  led  off  at  a  gallop,  with  the  intention  of  riding  down 
the  party.    As  he  came  near,  followed  by  one  other  warrior, 
a  volley  from  the  troops  finished  both.     Confronted  by  the 
whole  force  of  the  Arrapahoes,  and  a  large  number  of  Kiowas, 
and  having  abandoned  their  horses,  the  party  on  foot  made  an 
effort  to  force  their  way  down  to  the  river  and  seek  protection 
behind  the  trees,  under  cover  of  which  Elliott,  probably,  hoped 
to  fight  his  way  back.     Here,  again,  the  savage  warriors  inter 
cepted  him.     When  all  hope  of  rescue  or  escape  was  given  up, 
the  gallant  band,  evidently,  determined  to  sacrifice  their  lives  as 
dearly  as  possible.     The  grass,  where  they  lay,  was  much  trod 
den,  and  numbers  of  cartridge-shells,  scattered  on  the  ground, 
testified  to  the  valor  of  the  defence,  until  some  friendly,  fatal 
bullet,  afforded  the  only  alternative  of  escape  from  the  terrible 
torture  awaiting  them,  if  taken  alive.     It  is  not  likely  that  the 
entire  party  were  killed  before  overpowered,  but  whether  any, 
and  who  were  thus  taken,  and  the  trying  and  terrible  moments 
which  followed,  will  always  remain  a  mystery.     All  the  missing 
bodies  were  found.     Not  one  was  left  to  narrate  the  fearful 
story.     The  last  act  of  humanity — a  proper  burial — was  all  that 
remained. 

Although  the  savages,  with  whom  I  afterwards  conversed 
upon  the  subject,  readily  spoke  of  their  first  knowledge  of  the 
attack,  upon  the  closing  scenes  attending  Elliott's  party,  they 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  147 

were  remarkably  reticent.  Every  one  disclaimed  any  partici 
pation  in  the  killing  of  the  soldiers,  declaring  that  they  merely 
went  up  to  see  the  fight. 

After  the  troops,  under  Ouster,  had  withdrawn,  the  savages 
must  have  returned  to  wreak  their  vengeance  upon  the  dead 
bodies  of  the  brave  little  baud.  The  horrible  work  was  too 
effectively  done  to  have  been  accomplished  in  a  short  time. 
The  savages  admitted  that  they  lost  many  braves  before  they 
"killed  the  white  men." 

It  is  considered  "  good  medicine  "  for  each  warrior,  who  par 
ticipates  in  a  fight,  to  put  a  bullet  or  an  arrow  into  the  body  of 
his  enemy  or  to  commit  some  other  atrocity,  even  more  hellish. 
In  this  instance,  there  was  no  exception.  In  order  to  furnish 
"an  idea  of  the  nature  and  extent  of  these  mutilations,  I  will 
give  an  extract  from  the  official  report  of  Dr.  Henry  Lippincott, 
Assistant  Surgeon  United  States  Army,  with  the  seventh. 

Major  Joel  II.  Elliott,  one  bullet  hole  in  left  cheek,  two  bul 
lets  in  head,  throat  cut,  right  foot  cut  off,  left  foot  almost  cut 
off,  calves  of  legs  very  much  cut,  groin  ripped  open  and  other 
wise  mutilated. 

Walter  Kennedy,  sergeant-major,  bullet  hole  in  right  temple, 
head  partly  cut  off,  seventeen  bullet  holes  in  back,  and  two  in  legs, 

Harry  Mercer,  corporal  company  E,  bullet  hole  in  right  axilla, 
one  in  region  of  heart,  three  in  back,  eight  arrow  wounds  in 
back,  right  ear  cut  off,  head  scalped,  and  skull  fractured,  deep 
gashes  in  both  legs,  and  throat  cut. 

Thomas  Christie,  company  E,  bullet  hole  in  head,  right  foot 
cut  off,  bullet  hole  in  abdomen,  and  throat  cut. 

William  Carrick,  corporal  company  H,  bullet  hole  in  right 
parietal  bone,  both  feet  cut  off,  throat  cut,  left  arm  broken,  and 
otherwise  mutilated. 

Eugene  Clover,  company  H,  head  cut  off,  arrow  wound  in 
right  side,  both  legs  terribly  mutilated. 

William  Milligan,  company  H,  bullet  hole  in  left  side  of 
head,  deep  gashes  in  right  leg,  left  arm  deeply  gashed,  head 
scalped,  throat  cut,  and  otherwise  mutilated. 


148  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

James  F.  Williams,  corporal  company  I,  bullet  hole  in  back, 
head  and  arms  cut  off,  many  and  deep  cuts  in  back,  and  other 
wise  mutilated. 

Thomas  Downey,  company  I,  arrow  hole  in  region  of  stomach, 
throat  cut  open,  head  cut  off,  and  right  shoulder  cut  by  a  toma 
hawk. 

Thomas  Fitzpatrick,  farrier,  company  M,  scalped,  two  arrow 
and  several  bullet  holes  in  back,  and  throat  cut. 

Ferdinand  Linebach,  company  M,  bullet  hole  in  right  pa 
rietal  bone,  head  scalped,  one  arm  broken,  throat  cut,  and 
otherwise  mutilated. 

John  Myers,  company  M,  several  bullet  holes  in  head, 
scalped,  scull  extensively  fractured,  several  arrow  and  bullet 
holes  in  back,  deep  gashes  in  face,  and  throat  cut. 

Carson  D.  J.  Myers,  company  M,  several  bullet  holes  in  head, 
scalped,  nineteen  bullet  holes  in  body,  throat  cut,  and  other 
wise  mutilated. 

Cal.  Sharp,  company  M,  two  bullet  holes  in  left  side,  throat 
cut,  one  bullet  hole  in  left  side  of  head,  one  arrow  hole  in  left 
side,  left  arm  broken,  and  otherwise  mutilated. 

Unknown,  head  cut  off,  body  partly  devoured  by  wolves. 

Unknown,  head  and  right  hand  cut  off,  three  bullet  and  nine 
arrow  holes  in  back,  and  otherwise  mutilated. 

Unknown,  scalped,  skull  fractured,  six  bullet  and  thirteen 
arrow  holes  in  back,  and  three  bullet  holes  in  chest. 

The  discovery  of  the  bodies  having  been  made,  and  all  doubt 
as  to  the  fate  of  Elliott  and  his  comrades  having  been  settled, 
we  set  out  on  our  return  to  camp,  to  send  back  wagons  to  bring 
in  the  bodies.  Near  the  scene  of  this  struggle  the  bodies  of 
several  dead  warriors  were  found,  probably  killed  by  Elliott's 
men.  After  a  short  ride  of  several  miles  the  remains  of  the 
villages  of  the  Arrapahoes  and  Kiowas,  who  came  to  the  sup 
port  of  the  Cheyeimes,  were  found.  It  was  evident  that  both 
these  nations  cleared  out  \vith  their  families  as  hastily  as  their 
means  of  locomotion  would  allow.  Camp-kettles,  coffee-pots, 
cups,  powder-kegs  (empty),  several  riles,  hundreds  of  untanned 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  149 

robes,  hundreds  of  lodge-poles,  and  a  variety  of  other  articles, 
were  left  behind.  Orders  were  given  to  destroy  everything 
found.  It  was  not  long  before  a  stream  of  consuming  fire  and 
smoke  could  be  described  following  the  line  of  the  Washita  for 
a  distance  of  six  or  seven  miles,  all  the  way  to  camp.  Not  less 
than  one  thousand  lodges  occupied  this  stretch  of  country  at  the 
time  of  the  fight. 

Although  the  fate  of  Elliott's  party  would  appear  as  a  gross 
abandonment  by  Ouster,  particularly  for  not  even  recovering 
the  bodies,  or  making  some  effort  to  learn  what  had  become  of 
them,  when  found  missing,  after  the  fight,  the  circumstances  of 
the  event  were  of  such  a  character,  that  while  no  attempt  was 
made  with  that  view,  the  conduct  of  Ouster  in  ordering  a  with 
drawal  was  justifiable  according  to  the  laws  of  war.  He 
struck  the  upper  flank  of  a  long  range  of  villages,  numbering 
several  thousand  warriors.  His  own  force  was  small,  and  with 
out  supplies.  In  going  into  the  fight  the  troopers  had  divested 
themselves  of  overcoats  and  all  unnecessary  trappings,  leaving 
them  near  the  field.  These  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  savage 
allies.  The  men,  consequently,  were  without  the  proper  protec 
tion,  while  the  weather  was  cold  and  wintry.  The  wagon-train 
containing  the  subsistence  stores  and  tents  of  the  entire  column, 
which  had  been  left  miles  away,  had  not  yet  come  up.  The 
guard  consisted  of  but  eighty  men.  Ouster,  after  the  fight  com 
menced,  seeing  such  an  extraordinary  display  of  force,  felt  a 
natural  anxiety  to  look  after  his  wagons,  for  their  destruction 
would  involve  the  loss  of  the  entire  command,  and  probably  de 
feat  the  whole  campaign.  He  therefore  set  out  for  the  train, 
and  was  hastened  by  experiencing  greater  opposition  than  was 
anticipated. 

It  will  be  seen  that  there  were  reasons,  the  second,  particu 
larly,  which  would  warrant  the  abandonment  of  the  field,  and 
there  being  hardly  a  doubt  of  the  fate  of  Elliott,  when  found 
missing,  the  safety  of  the  command  was  certainly  more  to  be 
considered  than  the  loss  of  a  small  fraction  of  it.  The  pursuit 
of  the  fugitives,  by  Elliott,  was  entirely  exceptional,  as  he  had 


150  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

his  own  squadron  of  attack  to  look  after,  this  fact  has  led  to  the 
opinion  that  his  horse  ran  away  with  him,  and  seeing  him  pass, 
a  number  of  troopers,  not  actually  engaged  in  the  right,  joined 
him  and  were  the  companions  of  his  sad  end.  Major  Elliott 
was  an  efficient  and  much  esteemed  officer,  and  his  loss  was 
deeply  deplored  by  his  associates. 

During  the  journey  to  the  battle-field,  a  detachment,  moving 
close  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  found,  near  the  remains  of 
the  Kiowa  camp,  the  bodies  of  a  white  woman  and  child.  The 
bodies  were  brought  into  camp  and  examined.  Two  bullet 
holes,  penetrating  the  brain,  were  found,  also  the  back  of  the 
skull  was  fearfully  crushed,  as  if  by  a  hatchet.  There  were 
no  marks  on  the  child  except  a  bruise  on  the  cheek.  This  fact 
led  to  the  conclusion  that  the  child  had  been  seized  by  the  feet 
and  dashed  against  a  tree.  When  brought  in,  the  body  of  the 
woman  was  recognized  as  Mrs.  Blynn.  This  woman  was  cap 
tured  by  Satanta,  chief  of  the  Kiowas,  near  Fort  Lyon,  while 
on  her  way  to  her  home  in  the  l*  States."  At  the  time  of  her 
capture  she  was  in  a  wagon,  in  the  centre  of  a  civilian  train. 
The  men  with  the  train,  it  appears,  fled,  and  left  Mrs,  Blynn 
and  her  child  to  fall  into  savage  hands.  Satanta  kept  her  as 
his  captive  until  the  time  of  the  fight  of  the  Kiowas,  when  she 
was  ruthlessly  murdered.  The  body  was  dressed  in  the  ordi 
nary  garments  of  a  white  woman ;  on  the  feet  were  a  pair  of 
leather  gaiters,  comparatively  new.  Upon  the  breast  was  found 
a  piece  of  corn-cake,  and  the  position  of  the  hands  indicated 
that  the  woman  was  eating  when  she,  unexpectedly,  received 
the  fatal  blow.  The  body  presented  the  appearance  of  a  woman 
of  more  than  ordinary  beauty,  small  in  figure,  and  not  more 
than  twenty-two  years  of  age.  These  bodies,  and  that  of  Major 
Elliott,  were  brought  in  on  horseback  by  our  party,  to  be  con 
veyed  to  Fort  Arbuckle  for  interment, 

By  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  camp.  Imme 
diately  several  wagons  were  detailed,  under  Lieutenant  Hale, 
with  an  escort,  to  bring  in  the  rest  of  the  corpses.  It  was  nine 
o'clock  at  night  before  the  wagons  returned  with  their  load  of 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  151 

stark  and  ghastly  dead.  During  the  afternoon  a  trench  had 
been  dug  on  the  crest  of  a  beautiful  knoll,  overlooking  the  val 
ley  of  the  Washita.  Large  fires  were  built  at  night  to  enable 
the  burial  party  to  perform  their  sad  work.  Each  body  was 
examined,  and  several  men  from  each  of  the  companies,  to  which 
the  deceased  soldiers  belonged,  were  present  to  identify  ihe 
remains.  Each  corpse  was  now  wrapped  in  a  blanket  and  laid 
in  the  trench.  At  the  hour  of  midnight,  the  solemn  duty  was 
consummated.  The  usual  military  honors  were  dispensed  with. 
The  death-like  darkness  and  the  mournful  wintry  wind,  the 
low  tones  of  the  working  party  was  their  requiem.  The  spot 
was  marked,  and  the  bodies  left  alone  in  that  howling  wilder 
ness,  away  from  the  tender  solicitude  of  friends  for  the  last 
tenements  of  loved  ones. 

After  returning  to  camp,  the  situation  of  the  various  Indian 
villages,  between  our  position  at  the  time,  and  the  scene  of  the 
fight,  was  satisfactorily  explained  by  the  squaws  with  the  col 
umn.  From  our  own  observation,  during  the  day,  there  was 
no  exaggeration  in  fixing  the  aggregate  number  of  lodges  at  one 
thousand,  and  the  estimate  was  confirmed  by  the  squaws,  as 
near  as  their  primitive  ideas  of  numbers  could  convey.  Ac 
cording  to  their  statements,  the  village  of  Black  Kettle's  band 
of  Cheyennes  was  the  highest  up  the  river.  Next,  in  descend 
ing,  were  the  Arrapahoes,  under  Little  Haven,  next  the  Kiowas, 
under  Satan ta  and  Lone  Wolf;  next  the  Cheyennes  and  Arra 
pahoes,  then  several  bands  of  the  Conianches,  and  lowest  down 
the  Apaches,  (Lipans). 


152  SHBRIDAN»S    TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

AGAIN  ON  THE  MARCH— A  SNOW-STORM— THE   FLIGHT   OP  THE  SAVAGES — WILD 
TURKEYS — SATANTA  AND  LONE  WOLF  RECEIVE  HOSPITALITIES. 

T  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  twelfth  of  Decem 
ber,  the  column  again  broke  camp.     In  resuming  the 
march,  our  route  lay  along  the  course  of  the  Washita, 
following  the  trail,  the  fugitive  Indians  had  taken  in 
hastening  for  Fort  Cobb.     The  remaining  bands  of  the 
Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes  were  traced  in  an  opposite  direc 
tion,  leaving  the  valley  and  tending  towards  the  head  waters 
of  the  Red  rivers. 

Owing  to  the  configuration  of  the  country  on  the  north  side, 
the  column  crossed  the  Washita  near  camp.  The  stream  was 
about  thirty  feet  in  width,  with  almost  perpendicular  banks  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  feet  in  height.  From  the  river,  the  column 
ascended  the  "divide,"  which  afforded  good  traveling  and  an 
extensive  view  of  the  surrounding  country.  The  morning  had 
been  threatening,  and  the  moderated  temperature  was  a  sure 
indication  of  a  storm.  Towards  noon  the  heavy  fog  which  had 
prevailed  for  several  hours  was  changed  to  snow.  The  wind 
sprung  up  with  violent  force,  adding  greatly  to  our  embarrass 
ment.  By  noon  the  atmosphere  had  become  so  dense  with  snow 
and  sleet,  and  the  wind  drove  so  furiously  in  our  faces  that  the 
column  was  compelled  to  halt.  It  was  impossible  to  see  fifty 
yards  in  any  direction.  To  go  forward  was  likely  to  result  in 
losing  the  river,  upon  which  we  had  to  rely  for  camping,  as 
well  as  our  guide  to  our  destination.  To  remain  in  our  present 
position  exposed  to  the  full  force  of  the  wind,  and  having  the 
benefit  of  an  extra  dose  of  snow,  would  be  attended  with  suf- 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  153 

fering  and  probably  loss  of  men  and  animals.  The  Command^ 
ing  General,  consequently,  gave  orders  to  head  the  column  in 
the  direction  in  which  the  river  was  last  seen,  and  attempt  to 
reach  it  before  dark. 

There  being  constant  danger  of  detached  parties  losing  them 
selves,  or  the  column  becoming  separated  and  not  getting  in 
together,  the  troops  and  wagons  were  obliged  to  keep  up  close. 
The  descent  of  the  "divide"  was  difficult  in  consequence  of 
the  ravines  which  furrowed  its  sides  in  all  directions.  To  avoid 
these  was  impossible. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  the  advance  struck  the  valley  of  the 
river  and  following  it  for  a  short  distance,  led  the  column  into  a 
fine  bottom  covered  with  tall  dry  grass  and  an  abundance  of 
timber.  Here  we  went  into  camp.  In  the  short  space  of  four 
hours,  the  snow  had  fallen  to  the  depth  of  twelve  inches.  The 
mildness  of  the  temperature,  however,  promised  to  carry  it  off 
as  rapidly  as  it  had  come  upon  us. 

The  camp  this  night  was  wet  and  disagreeable.  In  order  to 
pitch  the  tents,  it  was  necessary  to  brush  away  the  snow  which, 
however,  had  little  effect  to  improve  the  comforts  of  sleeping 
on  the  ground.  Immediately  after  reaching  camp,  a  large  detail 
of  troops  was  sent  into  the  woods  to  fell  cotton-wood  trees  of 
which  we  here  found  a  great  abundance.  It  was  known  that 
the  young  branches  of  these  trees  were  used  by  the  savages  as 
food  for  their  ponies,  when  the  depth  of  snow  prevented  them 
from  getting  to  the  dry  grass.  Large  quantities  were  brought 
in  and  strewn  among  the  horses.  The  animals  half  starved  as 
they  were,  vigorously  applied  themselves  to  this  novel  forage, 
and  ate  it  with  an  air  of  satisfaction  at  least. 

During  the  night,  the  weather  made  a  decided  change.  The 
morning  dawned  clear  and  cold.  It  was  with  great  difficulty 
the  tents  could  be  struck  and  loaded  on  the  wagons.  Every 
thing  was  frozen.  After  daylight  the  column  again  got  in  mo 
tion.  The  course  taken  instead  of  following  the  "  divide  "  was 
now  along  the  bed  of  the  river,  pursuing  the  trail  of  the  savages 
in  their  flight  down  the  valley 


154  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

The  three  Cheyenne  squaws  brought  with  the  column,  in 
passing  over  the  ground  so  recently  occupied  by  their  people, 
seemed  to  be  very  indignant  at  the  cowardice  shown  by  the 
neighboring  tribes  in  not  coming  to  their  assistance.  The  sister 
of  Black  Kettle,  an  old  squaw,  while  riding  along  in  the  ambu 
lance  noticed  the  signs  of  haste  with  which  the  villages  had 
fled.  This  was  a  fact  as  well  apparent  to  the  most  inexperi 
enced  eye.  She  observed  "The  Kiowas  and  Arrapahoes,  our 
friends,  run  like  dogs.  They  were  worse  cowards  than  women, 
Black  Kettle  was  killed  because  they  were  afraid  of  the  white 
man.  They  killed  Black  Kettle  and  our  braves.  If  the  white 
man  fights  the  Kiowas  and  Arrapahoes,  I  want  a  knife  and 
will  fight  too,  and  kill  all  their  papooses."  All  the  squaws 
more  or  less  excited,  frequently  exhibited  their  hatred  of  the 
Kiowas  and  Arrapahoes. 

On  the  night  of  the  fifteenth,  upon  the  column  going  into 
camp  in  a  heavy  timber  on  the  river,  it  was  discovered  that  we 
were  in  the  midst  of  a  favorite  roost  of  immense  numbers  of 
wild  turkeys.  The  traces  were  every  where  visible,  and  some 
lively  sport  was  anticipated  when  the  droves  returned  from 
their  rambles  after  food.  Towards  sunset,  about  fifty  fine 
birds,  headed,  as  usual,  by  a  noble  cock,  appeared  on  the  bluff 
overlooking  the  camp.  With  an  air  of  surprise  at  the  intrusion, 
the  flock  gathered  in  full  view,  apparently  holding  an  inspection, 
and  resolving  what  to  do.  At  this  moment,  another  immense 
flock  came  floating  down  from  another  direction,  and  lit  in  the 
trees  within  the  lines  of  the  camp.  In  an  instant  about  fifty 
shots  were  fired,  killing  several. 

As  the  daylight  drew  nearer  to  a  close,  the  turkeys,  having 
failed  to  look  out  for  other  accommodations,  were  bent  upon 
taking  possession  of  their  customary  haunts.  The  numbers 
also  increased.  It  was  now  impossible  to  cast  the  eye  any 
where  along  the  heavens  without  getting  a  glimpse  of  turkeys 
sailing  about  in  the  air.  One  drove  entered  the  camp,  running 
amongst  the  tents  and  wagons.  It  was  decidedly  amusing  to 
witness  the  scene  which  ensued.  Soldiers,  teamsters,  and  dogs 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  155 

joined  in  the  pursuit.  One  moment  dashing  under  a  wagon, 
and  the  next  amongst  the  horses  and  mules.  In  the  early  part 
of  the  race,  the  turkeys  had  the  best,  but,  bewildered  and 
headed  off,  soon  became  exhausted.  A  number  were  caught  in 
this  way. 

While  this  exciting  chase  was  going  on,  a  party  of  soldiers 
occupied  themselves  with  shooting  at  the  birds  as  they  settled 
in  the  trees,  or  as  they  approached  the  ground.  During  this 
fusilade,  one  of  the  volunteers,  tying  his  horse  to  the  picket, 
was  somewhat  astounded  to  find  the  animal  jerk  away  from 
him  and  instantly  fall  to  the  earth.  A  stray  bullet  had  finished 
him.  Considering  all  the  firing  and  confusion,  it  was  a  matter 
of  great  surprise  that  no  other  casualties  occurred. 

That  night  there  was  a  feast  in  camp.  The  fragrance  of 
turkey,  boiling  or  roasting,  pervaded  the  atmosphere,  with  a 
grateful  variation  of  the  customary  vapors  of  fat  pork  and  fried 
bacon. 

On  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth,  while  the  pioneers  were 
engaged  in  the  advance,  cutting  a  crossing  for  the  train,  word 
came  in  that  a  number  of  Indians  were  in  front,  signaling  with 
a  white  flag.  One  of  the  party  was  seen  advancing  alone. 
Upon  reaching  our  lines,  it  was  discovered  to  be  a  courier  bear 
ing  a  dispatch  from  General  Hazen,  Military  Superintendent 
of  the  Southern  Indians,  and  dated  on  the  sixteenth,  at  Fort 
Cobb. 

The  dispatch  was  addressed  to  the  "  Commanding  Officer  of 
the  United  States  Forces,"  and  stated  that  information  had 
been  received  that  a  column  of  troops  was  within  twenty  miles, 
and  declared  that  all  the  Indians  between  the  column  and  Fort 
Cobb  were  disposed  to  be  friendly.  As  an  indication  of  this 
friendly  spirit,  however,  the  two  couriers,  who  had  left  Fort 
Cobb  the  night  before,  had  been  captured  by  a  party  of  Kiowa 
warriors,  and  were  taken  to  their  camp,  A  council  of  warriors 
was  held  as  to  what  disposition  to  make  of  the  two  white  men. 
At  first  the  determination  was  to  put  them  to  death  instantly. 
Several  chiefs  of  influence  proposed  to  allow  one  of  them  to  go 


156  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

to  the  soldiers'  camp  and  deliver  the  letter,  and  return.  His 
companion  was  to  be  kept  as  a  hostage  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
wishes  of  the  council.  This  plan  prevailed,  and  the  courier 
was  escorted  by  the  band  of  warriors  within  several  miles  of 
our  advance. 

While  the  pioneers  were  still  working  on  the  crossing,  Ouster, 
accompanied  by  several  officers,  the  writer,  and  an  escort  of 
fifty  men  of  Pepoon's  scouts,  rode  out  to  meet  the  flag.  A 
gallop  of  three  miles  brought  us  within  six  hundred  yards  of 
the  savages,  who  stood  in  the  broad  valley  in  front.  Among 
the  trees  along  the  banks  of  the  Washita  a  number  of  warriors, 
mounted,  could  be  seen,  stationed  as  a  reserve.  On  the  hills 
beyond,  five  hundred  warriors,  in  battle  array,  dashed  about, 
brandishing  their  spears,  and  assuming  various  menacing  atti 
tudes. 

The  warriors  with  the  flag  made  signs  of  a  parley.  Two 
interpreters  answered  the  signs,  and  advanced.  Two  of  the 
savages  imitated  the  movement,  until  the  parties  came  within 
speaking  distance.  The  two  Indians  were  Satanta  and  Lone 
Wolf,  the  head  chiefs  of  the  Kiowas.  They  professed  friend 
ship,  and  asked  to  speak  with  the  "  Big  White  Chief."  A  sign 
was  given,  when  Ouster,  Crosby,  and  the  writer,  joined  the 
interpreters.  It  was  not  certain  whether  the  Indians  meant 
war  or  peace,  and  every  man  of  our  party  had  his  pistol  and 
rifle  ready,  and  kept  mounted,  prepared  for  emergency,  should 
any  hostile  demonstrations  be  made. 

When  we  came  up  to  them,  the  Indians  opened  negotiations. 
Satanta  rode  up,  and  with  an  air  of  arrogance  exclaimed  "how," 
simultaneously  extending  his  hand.  This  civility,  Crosby, 
tp  whom  it  was  extended,  refused  to  receive.  The  Indian  drew 
back  in  anger,  exclaiming  "me  Kiowa,"  striking  his  breast,  and 
was  about  to  signal  his  warriors,  when  noticing  more  troops 
approaching  on  a  hill  about  a  mile  distant  hesitated.  Then  ad 
vancing  to  C uster  he  offered  his  hand.  The  General  said 
through  the  interpreter :  "  I  never  shake  hands  with  any  one 
unless  I  know  him  to  be  a  friend."  After  some  parley  Satanta 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  157 

4 

and  Lone  Wolf,  and  a  Comanche,  joined  the  column.     During 
the  day  about  sixty  warriors  also  came  in. 

It  was  evident  that  the  Kiowa  warriors  at  first  came  out  with 
hostile  intention,  supposing  us  to  be  weak  in  numbers,  but  when 
they  saw  the  unusual  array  of  force  they  professed  the  warmest 
friendship.  Their  faces  bedaubed  with  war  paint,  their  persons 
attired  in  all  the  panoply  of  war,  their  weapons  ready  for  use, 
told  a  different  tale.  At  nightfall  the  warriors,  except  Satanta 
and  Lone  Wolf,  disappeared.  About  noon  the  next  day  Sa 
tanta  was  allowed  to  leave  the  column  to  communicate  with  his 
warriors.  About  three  o'clock  he  returned  with  his  son,  a  fine 
boy,  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  attired  in  the  highest 
style  of  Indian  costume.  While  riding  along  a  short  distance 
from  the  column  the  old  chief  put  spurs  to  his  pony.  His  in 
tendon  was  evidently  to  escape,  but  in  a  moment  several  officers, 
each  of  whom  had  fleet  horses,  and  were  near  by  at  the  time, 
dashed  after  the  fugitive.  There  was  a  lively  race  for  half  a 
mile,  when  his  Indian  highness,  finding  himself  overtaken, 
checked  his  pony,  folded  his  arms  across  his  breast,  and  made 
several  exclamations.  After  this  adventure  a  guard  of  soldiers 
was  at  once  placed  over  both  Satanta  and  Lone  Wolf.  The 
prisoners  were  brought  in  and  held  as  hostages  for  the  fulfil 
ment  of  their  promises. 

Just  before  going  into  camp  the  same  night  about  a  hundred 
of  the  warriors  who  had  accompanied  the  column  during  the 
day  assembled  on  a  knoll  near  the  line  of  march.  Their  highly 
caparisoned  war  ponies  stood  near  by,  the  warriors  were  lying 
upon  blankets  spread  on  the  ground,  or  lounging  cross-legged 
in  their  saddles.  They  were  constantly  talking  among  them 
selves.  As  the  writer  rode  past  a  formidable  warrior  ap 
proached,  waving  his  hand  with  a  motion  to  halt.  At  the 
time  I  was  riding  a  beautiful  black  Cheyenne  war -pony.  The 
warrior  examined  the  animal  as  if  he  recognized  it.  It  was 
taken  from  the  Cheyenne  herd  at  the  battle  of  the  Washita.  The 
warrior  said  :  "  Gude  pony,  Bueno  big  chief — you  swap,  how 
much  ?" 


158  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

From  his  manner  the  animal  before  it  fell  into  our  possession 
was  the  property  of  a  prominent  personage  in  the  Cheyenne 
village.  With  the  merits  of  the  pony  he  seemed  to  be  familiar ; 
and  asking  to  "  swap  "  was  the  Indian  fashion  of  asking  "what 
will  you  take."  As  I  had  already  learned  to  appreciate  the 
value  of  the  pony  the  Indian  discovered  that  it  was  "no  swap," 
and  went  off. 

Some  of  the  warriors  as  the  column  was  passing  occupied 
themselves  in  trying  to  count  the  soldiers,  but  their  primi 
tive  system  of  calculation  was  totally  inadequate,  so  that  in 
order  to  express  our  force  one  chief  told  another  in  the  presence 
of  the  interpreter  that  he  had  tried  to  count  the  soldiers,  and 
after  keeping  on  for  a  long  time,  thinking  the  end  would  soon 
come,  he  got  tired,  and  when  he  stopped  he  was  not  half  done. 

During  the  same  day  the  column  drew  in  sight  of  the  Wi 
chita  mountains,  at  a  distance  of  between  forty  and  fifty  miles 
The  range  resembled  a  dense  black  cloud  upon  the  heavens. 
The  fogs  gathered  about  the  summits  of  the  peaks  gave  a  pecu 
liar  and  an  ever-changing  outline  to  the  higher  elevations,  at 
times  resembling  broad  table  lands  supported  by  innumerable 
columns,  and  again  huge  boulders  rising  high  into  the  air. 
Perfect  spires  at  times  shot  up  into  the  heavens,  which  again 
changed  to  craggy  cliffs. 

Our  last  day's  march  before  reaching  Fort  Cobb  brought  us 
into  an  extensive  open  country,  presenting  the  most  enlarged 
and  fertile  valleys  we  had  yet  encountered.  The  country  now 
exhibited  a  material  change  for  the  better.  The  luxuriant 
grasses  which  covered  the  soil  far  and  wide  presented  an  un 
mistakable  argument  that  at  no  distant  time  that  entire  country 
would  be  converted  into  vast  pasture  lauds.  At  noon,  while 
the  animals,  very  much  exhausted  by  the  soft  and  slippery  con 
dition  of  the  surface,  owing  to  a  heavy  thaw,  were  moving 
ahead  at  a  slow  and  laborious  gait,  one  of  the  Indian  captives 
pointed  out  the  site  of  Fort  Cobb  by  a  lone  tree  which  stood 
upon  a  hill  at  a  distance  of  at  least  ten  miles.  This  piece  of 
information  was  decidedly  gratifying.  For  two  days  before  we 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  159 

had  anticipated  camping  at  Fort  Cobb  the  same  night.  The 
country  was  entirely  new  to  every  one  attached  to  the  command, 
and  therefore  from  day  to  day  we  only  had  to  move  ahead  and 
trust  to  the  chances  of  making  our  destination  sometime  before 
our  thirty  days'  supplies  were  out. 

Our  proximity  to  Fort  Cobb  was  communicated  to  the  com 
manding  officer  at  that  point  by  an  officer  and  escort  who 
camped  with  us  the  night  before  our  arrival,  and  preceded  us 
on  the  following  morning. 

The  same  afternoon,  about  three  o'clock,  the  advance  being 
a  mile  from  the  post,  General  Hazen,  and  Captain  Rife,  sixth 
infantry,  met  the  column,  and  with  the  General  and  officers  ex 
changed  the  warmest  greetings.  The  troops  poured  over  the 
hill,  and  descending  into  the  valley  went  into  camp  on  Pond 
creek,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  post. 

The  physical  features  of  the  valley  of  the  Washita,  for  a  dis 
tance  of  over  a  hundred  miles,  followed  by  the  column,  pre 
sented  altogether  the  finest  section  we  had  met  with  during  the 
entire  campaign  up  to  that  time.  The  soil  in  the  bed  of  the 
valley  was  a  rich  black  loom,  producing  a  luxuriant  growth 
of  grass  frequently  six  feet  in  height.  In  descending  the 
stream  the  arable  soil  of  the  valley  widened,  and  the  adja 
cent  country  had  a  less  sterile  appearance.  Everywhere  along 
the  stream  there  was  an  abundance  of  wood,  cotton-wood,  burr 
oak,  elm,  black  walnut,  ash,  hackberry,  box  elder.,  Osage  orange, 
and  some  locust.  In  the  canons,  away  from  the  river,  quanti 
ties  of  cedar  were  met  with. 

The  main  stream  we  found  fed  by  numerous  tributaries,  in 
many  of  which  the  water  was  of  excellent  quality,  while  again 
others  were  strongly  impregnated  with  alkaline  matter.  The 
hills  for  miles  away  from  the  river  grew  an  excellent  variety 
of  "  bunch  "  grass.  At  different  points  the  country  was  con 
siderably  cut  by  ravines  with  perpendicular  banks.  In  many 
of  these  could  be  seen  traces  of  gypsum.  Along  the  march  we 
met  with  hard  sandy  loam,  red  loam,  gravel,  disentegrated  lime- 


160  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

stone,  sand-stone  in  a  variety  of  forms,  gypsum,  selenite,  and  a 
variety  of  alabaster. 

The  valley  was  alive  with  game,  such  as  several  varieties  of 
deer,  antelope,  wild  turkeys,  pinnated  grouse,  and  quails.  It 
had  also  been  in  previous  years  a  favorite  resort  of  the  buffalo, 
though  there  were  very  few  to  be  found  during  our  march 
through  the  country,  the  herds  having  been  driven  off  by  the 
movements  of  the  army  and  Indian  war-parties. 

In  our  march  we  made  from  depot  of  supplies  to  the  Cana 
dian,  55  miles  1,487  yards;  from  Canadian  river  to  the  Wa- 
shita,  18  miles;  from  camp  on  Washita  to  Fond  creek,  113 
miles  1,438  yards. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  16) 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

FORT   COBB — ARROGANCE  OF  THE  SAVAGES — THE   PENETEGHTKA  COMANCHES — 

KIOWA  DUPLICITY TWO  CHIEFS  IN  TROUBLE— SOME  OF  THE  FUGITIVE 

BANDS  COME  IN — CONDITION  OF  THE  TROOPS — OUR  CAMP. 

'HE  arrival  of  Sheridan  at  Fort  Cobb,  was  a3  unex- 
o    pected  to  the  garrison  there  as  it  was  to  the  Indians, 
in  the  valley  of  the  Washita.     The  principal  object  to 
be  accomplished  by  this  transfer  of  the  centre  of  opera 
tions,  was  more  ready  access  to  all  parts  of  the  country 
inhabited  by  the  hostile  tribes. 

Fort  Cobb  was  situated  on  Pond  creek,  about  a  mile  from  its 
junction  with  the  Washita  river.  The  name  of  the  post  was 
more  in  remembrance  of  what  it  had  been,  than  what  it  was  at 
the  time  of  our  visit.  The  site  had  been  selected  some  years 
before  as  a  cavalry  station,  from  which  to  watch  the  movements 
of  the  southern  wild  bands.  It  was,  however,  soon  after  aban 
doned,  and  the  few  mud  huts,  which  had  been  constructed,  were 
destroyed  by  the  savages.  The  position,  in  a  defensible  point 
of  view,  amounted  to  literally  nothing,  and  were  it  not  for  the 
fine  water,  abundance  of  timber,  and  winter  grass,  it  might,  quite 
naturally,  be  concluded  that  the  person  who  selected  the  site 
never  visited  the  spot.  The  buildings,  constituting  the  old  post, 
were  constructed  in  a  valley  on  an  arm  of  Pond  creek.  A 
high  hill  commanded  one  side,  a  low  plateau  swept  the  other, 
while  a  thick  underbrush  concealed  the  approach  of  an  enemy 
along  the  stream. 

The  conduct  of  the  savages  in  violating  their  pledges  to 
Sheridan,  at  Forts  Dodge  and  Lamed,  compelled  General  Hazen 

11 


162  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPL'llS 

to  reach  Fort  Cobb  by  way  of  Fort  Gibson.  Before  his  arrival, 
Rifc's  company  of  the  6th  infantry,  and  Alvord's  company  of 
the  10th  cavalry,  were  detached  from  Fort  Arbuckle  to  take 
possession  of  the  post.  It  was  not  until  November  8,  1868, 
that  Hazen  arrived.  This  officer  had  been  sent  out  by  General 
Sherman,  then  commanding  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mis 
souri,  to  represent  him  under  the  provisions  of  the  law,  appro 
priating  a  large  sum  of  money  to  carry  out  the  various  trea 
ties  which  the  government 'had  made  with  the  southern  band? 

It  was  not  until  November  that  the  Indians,  who  were  parties 
to  the  agreements,  on  the  Arkansas  were  heard  from.  It  was 
now  discovered  that,  instead  of  returning  to  Forts  Dodge  and 
Larned,  all  the  bands  took  a  share  in  the  predatory  expeditions 
which  followed.  The  Yamparicko  Comanches  made  a  raid 
into  the  Cherokee  country,  killing  a  half-breed  and  stealing  a 
number  of  horses.  The  Kiowas  came  south  and  established  a 
camp  about  sixty  miles  above  Cobb,  on  the  Washita  river. 
From  this  point  a  large  number  of  the  warriors  of  the  tribe,  led 
by  Kicking  Bird,  a  chief  of  remarkable  ability,  began  depre 
dations  across  the  Red  river  in  the  south  into  Texas,  after  which, 
some  of  the  bands  reported  at  Fort  Cobb. 

The  delicate  relations  existing  between  all  the  southern 
tribes,  as  well  as  the  additional  fuel,  added  to  the  flame  by  the 
battle  of  the  Washita,  necessitated  an  increase  of  military  strength 
at  Cobb.  Kidd,  with  Walsh's,  Gray's,  and  Robinson's  com 
panies  of  the  10th  cavalry,  occupied  the  post  early  in  December. 

Up  to  the  arrival  of  the  troops,  under  Sheridan,  the  officers 
at  Cobb  were  in  constant  anticipation  of  an  attack.  Double 
guards  were  on  duty  at  night,  and  a  vigilant  watch  was  kept 
during  the  day.  A  stockade  fort  was  erected  on  the  hill  to 
cover  the  defences  in  the  valley,  and  to  be  used  as  a  place  of 
refuge  in  case  of  emergency.  Satanta  and  Lone  Wolf,  backed 
by  their  warriors,  were  insulting  in  the  highest  degree.  This 
conduct  led  to  the  order  for  reinforcements  from  Fort  Arbuckle, 
making  the  garrison  to  consist  of  one  company  of  the  6th 
infantry  and  three  companies  of  the  10th  cavalry.  When  the 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  163 

additional  companies  were  on  the  way,  a  band  of  warriors,  with 
Satanta  at  their  head,  told  the  officers  they  should  not  come 
any  farther.  The  officer  commanding  informed  their  savage 
majesties  that  he  had  been  ordered  to  go  to  Fort  Cobb,  and 
there  he  would  go.  The  savages  threatened,  but  their  couriers, 
at  this  timely  moment,  reporting  the  presence  of  troops  in  the 
north,  probably  had  the  influence  of  suppressing  any  bloody 
schemes  of  revenge.  The  officers  gave  their  experience  with 
these  vagabond  savages  as  the  most  humiliating  of  their  lives. 
Threats  and  insults  were  of  constant  occurrence,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  accede  to  the  most  arrogant  demands  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  preventing  an  immediate  massacre  of  the  garrison. 

The  arrival  of  the  column,  consequently,  was  a  welcome  event. 
To  the  credit  of  at  least  one  of  the  bands  in  the  valley,  the 
Peneteghtka  Comanches,  it  must  be  said,  remained  faithful, 
When  their  people  threatened  to  destroy  all  the  whites  at  Oobb, 
the  Peneteghtkas  moved  their  village  close  to  the  post  and 
declared  themselves  the  friends  of  the  whites,  and  any  one  who 
attacked  must  fight  them  also. 

•  There  were  at  this  time  but  three  hundred  lodges  at  the  post, 
principally  Comanches  and  Apaches,  (Lipans).  The  Cheyennes 
and  Arrapahoes  had  taken  to  the  Wichita  mountains,  about 
forty  miles  distant.  The  Kiowas,  as  we  have  seen,  had  prom 
ised  to  keep  with  the  column.  After  waiting  several  days,  and 
still  no  signs  of  the  Kiowa  villages  arriving,  a  scout  up  the 
valley  developed  the  fact  that  they  had  also  disappeared  towards 
the  mountains. 

When  this  was  discovered,  the  two  chiefs,  in  the  guard-house, 
were  accused  of  their  rascality.  They  were  informed  that  if 
their  people  did  not  get  in  the  next  day  they  would  be  hanged 
to  the  nearest  tree.  Both  the  chiefs  were  completely  unnerved 
by  this  exhibition  of  decision.  They  begged  earnestly  for  more 
time.  Their  entreaties  were  of  no  avail.  They  delegated  an 
old  chief,  who  was  voluntarily  sharing  their  captivity,  to  over 
take  the  fleeing  villages  and  turn  them  back.  As  the  old 
Apache  and  his  companions  left  the  prison  lodge,  the  chiefs 


164  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

motioned  them  emphatically  to   hasten,  accompanying  their 
gestures  with  the  words,  "  hudeldy,  hudeldy." 

Late  the  same  night,  a  delegation  from  the  tribe  came  in  and 
offered  themselves  as  hostages,  that  their  families  would  join 
them  the  next  day.  This  expeditious  work  alone  saved  the 
wily  chiefs  from  a  short  rounding  off  of  their  career  of  blood 
and  treachery.  The  families  of  all,  except  Kicking  Bird's  band, 
came  in  during  the  next  few  days,  and  established  their  villages 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  Washita,  about  a  mile  below  our 
camp. 

The  Indians  who  had  thus  surrendered  remained  quietly  in 
their  villages,  except  during  times  of  drawing  rations.  Fre 
quently  fifty  or  a  hundred  chiefs  and  warriors  entered  our  camp 
to  visit  the  captives,  or  to  hold  a  talk  and  lounge  about.  Sheri 
dan  would  have  nothing  to  say  to  any  of  them,  notwithstanding 
their  repeated  importunities  by  messenger,  or  by  seating  them 
selves,  for  hours  at  a  time,  in  front  of  his  quarters.  The  trouble 
with  the  Indians  had  been  that  they  had  been  consulted  too 
much. 

In  order  to  secure  constant  and  reliable  information  of  tli£ 
movements  of  the  hostile  tribes,  and  to  keep  a  strict  watch 
upon  the  doubtful  bands,  as  early  as  the  end  of  October  pre 
ceding,  Sheridan  addressed  a  letter  of  instructions  to  Fort. 
Arbuckle,  "  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  employ  scouts  to 
operate  from  Fort  Cobb,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the 
location  of  the  families  and  stock  of  hostile  Indians  south  of 
the  Arkansas,  to  be  reported  semi-weekly  to  department  head 
quarters."  A  number  of  Peneteghtka  Comanches  were  em 
ployed  to  act  as  scouts.  The  Peneteghtkas  were  originally 
the  most  southern  band  of  the  southern  Comanches.  They 
were  of  the  same  origin  and  spoke  the  same  language.  They 
had,  for  some  years,  been  friendly  towards  the  whites,  and  had, 
in  a  great  measure,  given  up  their  nomadic  habits.  All  these 
considerations  admirably  adapted  these  people  for  tbe  duty 
proposed;  and  their  reputation  among  the  other  bands  for 
bravery,  gave  them  the  additional  recommendation  of  fearing 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  165 

no  danger  in  carrying  out  any  mission  that  might  be  entrusted 
to  them. 

The  head  of  the  corps  was  Tosawi,  (Silver  Brooch),  the 
civil  chief  of  the  band.  As  he  was  an  old  man,  little  was 
expected  of  him,  except  to  go  the  rounds  of  the  villages  and 
gossip  with  the  old  squaws — for  this  is  a  common  pastime 
with  a  certain  class  among  Indians,  as  well  as  whites.  Essa- 
havit,  (Milky  Way),  was  a  middle-aged  Indian  of  powerful 
frame  and  remarkable  shrewdness.  He  was  the  war-chief  of 
the  Peneteghtkas,  and  had  active  supervision  of  the  Indian 
scouts.  As  many  warriors  of  the  band  as  were  needed  were 
furnished,  and,  for  the  time  they  were  employed,  were  paid, 
at  an  established  rate,  in  goods. 

From  this  source  the  Commanding  General  learned,  upon 
reaching  Fort  Cobb,  the  locality  of  nearly  every  Indian  band 
between  the  Washita  and  the  Red  rivers.  This  knowledge 
subsequently  proved  invaluable. 

The  condition  of  our  little  army,  after  its  long  march,  was 
anything  but  flattering.  Exposure  and  hardship  already  told 
severely  upon  men  and  animals,  but  particularly  upon  the  latter. 
Several  hundred  horses  had  given  out  entirely,  and  were  shot 
The  rest  of  the  animals  were  in  a  fearfully  weakened  and  re 
duced  condition.  Our  forage  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  the 
extra  supply  expected  at  the  fort  had  not  yet  arrived.  The 
animals,  guarded  by  strong  parties  of  herders,  were  turned  loose 
upon  the  neighboring  hills  where  they  were  compelled  to  eke 
out  a  miserable  sustenance  on  dry  grass. 

Our  camp  lay  in  an  expansive  valley,  bordering  Pond  creek. 
The  men,  anticipating  some  stay  in  that  locality,  began  to  ex 
ercise  their  ingenuity  in  contriving  such  additions  to  the  limited 
space  allowed  by  their  "  dog  "  tents  as  would  not  only  increase 
their  accommodations,  but  materially  improve  their  personal 
comfort.  In  some  cases,  square  pits,  three  or  four  feet  in  depth, 
were  dug,  and  the  tents  set  over  them.  Fire-places  were  also 
built,  which  were  very  grateful  accessions.  In  the  course  of  a 
week,  the  camp  had  the  appearance  of  a  regular  winter  canton- 


166  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

ment.  The  weather  was  inexplicable.  It  was  one  of  two 
things — either  very  wet  or  very  cold.  It  rained  in  torrents  one 
day,  and  blew  and  froze  the  next. 

During  our  delay  at  Cobb,  I  took  opportunity,  in  company 
with  Jones,  the  interpreter,  to  visit  the  Indian  villages  near 
our  camp.  Jones  was  a  Texan,  and,  notwithstanding  his  long 
life  on  the  frontiers,  was  a  man  of  agreeable  manners.  He  was 
one  of  those  intensely  patient  individuals  rarely  met  with, 
yet  an  admirable  trait,  especially  in  an  interpreter.  He  was 
unobtrusive,  and  never  was  so  well  satisfied  as  when  let  alone. 
Unlike  interpreters  generally,  he  had  a  gentlemanly  modesty 
about  him,  and  a  fund  of  information,  which  made  him  an  ac 
ceptable  companion  under  all  circumstances.  He  seemed  to 
little  concern  himself  in  the  affairs  of  the  world.  As  long  as 
he  had  a  few  yards  of  canvas  to  protect  him  from  the  dews 
and  the  pelting  rain,  plenty  of  buffalo-meat  and  game  for  home 
consumption,  and  a  private  soldier's  outfit  in  clothes,  he  was  in 
a  state  of  mental  quiescence  and  unconcern  truly  wonderful. 
Jones  had  knocked  about  a  great  deal,  and  had  seen  much  of 
the  world — that  meant  the  plains.  He  was,  however,  constitu 
tionally  opposed  to  a  change  of  locality.  For  ten  years  he  had 
not  left  the  banks  of  the  Washita.  In  fact,  that  was  the  nearest 
he  had  ever  been  to  civilization.  A'fact  that  impressed  me  with 
a  sort  of  reverence  for  him,  was  that  he,  a  creature  of  the  nine 
teenth  century,  had  never  seen  a  railroad,  a  locomotive,  nor  a 
telegraph.  What  greater  proof  than  this  of  his  equanimity  of 
temperament  and  settled  habits.  Nor  was  he  in  any  hurry  to 
satisfy  even  an  infinitesimally  small  amount  of  curiosity  in  the 
matter.  He  observed,  one  day,  that  "  if  the  brutes  of  savages 
did  not  lift  his  hair,  in  his  pirouetting  around  with  every  body, 
he  thought  he  would  go  sometime  to  Riley,  and  see  what  those 
machines  called  railroads  looked  like." 


T 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  167 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

A  VISIT  TO  A  COMANCHE   VILLAGE — THE   CHIEF'S   LODGE — CHRISTMAS   DAT — 
INDIANS  DRAWING  RATIONS. 

FTER  tarrying  for  a  short  time  on  the  way,  watching 
some  juvenile  sports,  we  continued  our  journey.  Our 
advent  was  duly  announced  by  a  drove  of  snarling, 
snapping  curs,  of  all  sizes,  colors  and  conditions. 
Two  great  clubs  with  which  we  had  provided  our 
selves  beforehand  alone  prevented  a  complete  route  before  this 
canine  demonstration.  Our  movements,  however,  were  most 
cautiously  performed  by  backing  in  the  direction  we  wished  to 
proceed  and  thus  preventing  a  dash  on  our  heels.  The  noise 
of  our  approach  as  developed  by  the  dogs,  started  a  few  old 
squaws  who  came  out  of  their  lodges,  and  by  giving  vent  to  a 
few  gutterals  completely  silenced  the  growling  storm,  and  we 
continued  to  the  lodge  of  the  chief  without  farther  interruption 
or  molestation. 

There  were  about  seventy  lodges  in  this  village,  about  the 
same  number  of  warriors,  and  twice  that  number  of  women. 

We  proceeded  at  once  to  the  lodge  of  Essahavit,  the  war- 
chief  of  the  band.  This  exalted  hero  of  the  savage  community 
heard  of  our  coming  and  was  ready  to  greet  us.  He  politely 
waved  us  an  invitation  to  enter.  We  complied  by  crowding 
through  an  aperture  made  by  the  meeting  of  the  two  extremities 
of  the  outer  covering  of  the  lodge,  about  three  feet  in  height, 
and  covered  with  a  piece  of  buffalo  hide  dried,  and  as  stiff  as  a 
board. 

Upon  entering  the  lodge  we  were  invited  to  a  seat  on  a  fine 


168  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

buffalo  robe  Bpread  upon  the  ground,  for  the  accommodation  of 

visitors. 

Having  seated  ourselves,  the  interpreter  opened  a  conversa 
tion.  The  war-chief  was  a  man  of  about  forty-five  years  of 
age,  heavy  muscular  frame,  and  a  broad  face.  The  latter  was 
specially  illuminated  with  a  coating  of  vermilion.  lie  wore  a 
brown  shirt,  and  about  his  waist  a  broad  belt  supporting  a 
breech-clout,  his  lower  limbs  were  bare,  with  the  exception  of 
a  pair  of  beautifully  worked  moccasins  on  his  feet.  Both  ears 
were  fearfully  disfigured  by  large  incisions  which  had  been 
made  in  them  for  the  accommodation  of  a  profusion  and  variety 
of  ear-rings. 

Like  most  men  of  deeds,  Essahavit  soon  began  to  narrate  his 
warlike  performances  against  the  Utes  and  Navajoes,  the  ancient 
and  mortal  enemies  of  the  Peneteghtkas.  His  fierce  black  eyes 
while  thus  talking,  soon  flashed  up,  indicating  the  chiefs  fire  of 
temper  and  no  ordinary  intelligence,  He  was  reclining,  his 
coarse  raven  hair  streaming  over  his  shoulders.  His  couch  con 
sisted  of  a  number  of  rushes  ingeniously  piled  together,  pinned 
and  held  down  with  small  thongs.  It  was  elevated  at  the  head, 
and  over  the  top  was  spread  a  royal  buffalo  robe,  the  shaggy 
mane  forming  a  pillow.  Near  the  couch,  and  within  arms  length, 
stood  a  forked  stick,  upon  which  were  suspended  the  chiefs 
trappings  for  war  and  the  chase,  his  head  gear  and  ornaments, 
and  shell  and  silver  breast  decorations ;  his  silver  mounted  bri 
dle  and  highly  adorned  saddle ;  which  had  evidently  in  former 
years  been  the  property  of  some  luckless  alcalde  in  far  off  Mex 
ico.  Opposite  the  chief  on  our  right,  lay  several  very  fine 
robes  and  parfleshes  finely  painted.  On  our  left,  lay  the  rude 
cooking  utensils  of  the  lodge.  In  the  centre,  a  hole  sunk  about 
six  inches,  contained  a  small  fire  burning  brightly,  and  emitting 
a  pleasant  heat. 

At  the  head  of  the  couch,  lay  a  squaw  incorrigibly  ugly  and 
emaciated.  We  were  early  informed  by  herself  that  she  was 
sick  "a  heap."  Near  by  were  a  medicine  drum  and  other 
necessary  instruments  in  the  savage  art  of  expelling  maladies 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  169 

by  physical  force,  and  unearthly  noises.  At  the  foot  of  the 
couch  sat  the  favorite  squaw,  young,  pretty,  and  unusually 
cleanly  in  appearance. 

During  our  entire  presence  this  one  of  the  female  members 
of  the  family  was  busily  occupied  in  finishing  a  beautiful  buf 
falo  robe  which  she  had  just  tanned.  Occasionally  from  her 
work  in  response  to  some  words  from  the  chief,  she  would  lift 
a  pair  of  fine  black  eyes,  and  with  a  pleasantness  of  expression 
respond  in  striking  contrast,  with  the  old  hag  cuddled  up  in  the 
corner. 

The  extent  of  Essahavits  conjugal  bliss,  was  three  squaws 
and  four  or  five  papooses.  The  chief  was  a  thrifty  savage,  and 
kept  a  watchful  eye  upon  his  extensive  herds  of  ponies.  His 
lodge  was  the  finest  that  Indian  art  could  produce,  his  equip 
ments  and  decorations  were  of  the  most  expensive  character, 
and  his  squaws  wore  new  and  bright  red  blankets.  The  young 
est  as  a  mark  of  special  favor,  wore  a  belt  covered  with  large 
silver  plates,  and  by  her  side  an  awl  and  paint  pouch  very 
elaborately  worked  with  beads.  Her  moccasins  were  in  keep 
ing  with  the  rest  of  her  attire. 

The  chief  was  certainly  pleased  with  our  visit,  and  did 
everything  to  show  his  hospitality.  The  interpreter  and  him- 
eelf  kept  up  a  lively  conversation.  I  usually  took  part  when 
the  laugh  came  in,  by  way  of  imitation  to  let  it  be  seen  that  I 
fully  appreciated  all  that  was  said.  The  chief  with  great  pride 
took  down  his  otter  quiver  and  bow  case.  It  was  without 
question  the  finest  I  had  ever  seen.  While  showing  the  quiver 
and  admiring  it,  pointing  to  his  pretty  squaw,  for  so  I  must 
distinguish  her,  he  remarked  "  squaw  me  bueno,  heap  bueno," 
meaning  that  his  favorite  had  made  it  for  him  and  it  was  very 
good.  This  "outfit"  to  use  a  common  expression,  was  for 
occasions  of  state  and  ceremony. 

After  pulling  out  the  arrows  and  commenting  upon  each  one 
having  a  particular  history  and  value,  the  chief  handed  every 
thing  over  to  his  squaw,  remarking  "  squaw  work,  put  away  me 
no."  The  squaw  took  the  hint. 


170  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

After  we  had  been  in  the  lodge  about  half  an  hour,  one  of 
the  interesting  household  handed  around  water  in  a  calabash. 
After  partaking  of  this,  she  also  distributed  a  few  Indian  cakes 
about  the  size  of  walnuts  and  as  hard  as  bullets.  By  way  of 
courtesy  I  contrived  to  dispose  of  my  first.  The  second  I  slip 
ped  into  my  pocket  to  preserve  as  a  curiosity,  a  fact  I,  subse 
quently,  found  was  much  more  satisfactory  to  the  digestion  than 
the  use  to  which  I  had  put  the  other, 

Essahavit  observed  with  unfeigned  regret  that  the  "  white 
men  had  all  the  fire  water  and  drank  it  all  himself."  He  said 
also,  "  he  was  very  poor  "  a  peace  of  information  an  Indian  is 
never  at  a  loss  nor  diffident  about  conveying. 

The  rest  of  the  time  passed  at  the  village,  we  occupied  in 
strolling  around  amongst  the  lodges.  A  retinue  of  dogs  escorted 
us  about,  occasionally  making  an  offensive  flourish  which  was 
usually  counter-balanced  by  a  rap  over  the  head  of  the  most 
audacious  brute. 

The  woman  about  the  village  were  occupied  in  most  of  the 
daily  out-door  employments  of  their  sex.  Some  were  driving 
in  the  herds  of  ponies,  others  fleshing  buffalo  hides,  others 
carrying  water  and  fire  wood.  In  this  last  occupation  I  was 
amazed  at  the  wonderful  strength  of  the  women.  I  saw  one 
old  squaw,  not  less  than  sixty  years  of  age,  with  an  enormous 
bundle  of  wood  on  her  back  held  together  by  strips  of  raw  hide. 
What  she  carried  at  the  time  could  not  have  weighed  less  than 
three  hundred  pounds,  and  I  was  even  told  that  for  a  short  dis 
tance  it  was  not  uncommon  for  squaws  to  carry  six  hundred 
pounds  in  the  same  manner.  * 

Out  of  curiosity  we  entered  another  lodge  of  less  pretentious 
than  that  of  the  war-chief.  The  interior  had  not  in  any  com 
parison  that  air  of  comfort,  was  less  spacious  and  filled  with  all 
sorts  of  rubbish,  jerked  buffalo-meat,  bones,  robes  and  skins. 
Three  squaws  were  seated  around  the  little  fire  in  the  centre, 
and  a  warrior  was  lomiging  on  a  pile  of  untanned  buffalo-skins. 
As  we  went  in,  the  usual  form  of  Indian  ceremony  being  to  enter 
without  any  preliminary  manosuvres,  the  warrior  exclaimed 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  171 

"  how ! "  to  which  we  responded  more  emphatically  using  the 
same  salutatory  observation. 

While  I  was  watching  and  admiring  the  bead -work  of  the 
squaws  in  the  lodge,  with  the  vocal  assistance  of  the  interpreter 
I  secured  the  promise  of  a  beautiful  awl-case  nearly  finished, 
for  four  cups  of  brown  sugar.  Sugar  was  a  favorite  commodity 
with  the  squaws.  The  next  day  I  went  over  to  the  village, 
but  found  my  red  friend  had  very  capriciously  resolved  not  to 
part  with  her  work,  saying  it  was  not  her's,  it  belonged  to  her 
cousin.  Determined  to  get  one,  after  scouring  the  village  from 
one  end  to  the  other,  I  was  successful,  and  obtained  a  better 
one  at  an  advance  of  one  cup  of  sugar. 

Christmas  day,  with  its  associations  of  home  and  winter  re 
creation,  was  duly  celebrated  in  camp.  Milk  punch,  concocted 
of  the  condensed  material,  sugar,  and  Texas  "spirits,"  was  the 
popular  beverage.  With  their  usual  facility  of  discovering 
everything  that  is  going  on,  the  leading  warriors  in  the  vicinity 
of  camp  in  some  way  or  other  found,  out  that  the  day  was  more 
than  an  ordinary  affair.  Resolved  to  convince  themselves  of 
the  fact  several  delegations,  painted  and  plumed,  and  mounted 
on  their  best  war  ponies,  set  out  for  the  various  headquarters. 
At  the  time  at  Hazen's  tent  a  number  of  officers  were  present. 
As  the  warriors  came  up,  and  heard  the  conversation  within, 
they  probably  felt  reassured  that  something  was  going  on. 

The  chief  of  the  party  dismounted,  and  poking  his  head 
through  the  entrance  of  the  tent,  cast  one  hasty  glance  at  the 
crowd  of  officers.  The  chief  exclaimed  "  how  T*  and  grinned 
invitingly.  A  chorus  of  "  hows  "  were  returned,  but  nothing 
further  was  said,  notwithstanding  the  chief  kept  his  feathered 
head  in  sight  for  some  minutes. 

After  withdrawing  his  regal  pate  a  half  dozen  other  warriors 
got  down  from  their  ponies  and  gratified  their  curiosity  by  tak 
ing  a  peep. 

Essahavit,  war-chief  of  the  Peneteghtkas,  soon  came  along, 
and,  bolder  than  the  rest,  entered  the  tent.  A  number  of  the 
other  warriors  followed  him,  and  squatted  in  one  corner,  assum- 


178  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

ing  their  usual  stolidity  of  countenance.  Probably  twenty 
minutes  had  elapsed,  and  all  the  officers  except  one  or  two  had 
gone.  Essahavit,  unable  to  withstand  the  temptation,  very 
methodically  walked  up  to  the  improvised  punch  bowl — a  horse- 
bucket.  He  observed  to  the  General,  "  bueno,"  at  the  same 
time  evidently  awaiting  an  invitation.  After  repeating  this 
suggestion  several  times  the  old  chief  found  his  hints  were  not 
appreciated  and  left.  The  other  warriors  left  also,  observing  as 
they  filed  out  of  the  tent  "  white  man  no  bueno." 

Iii  the  afternoon  Sheridan  gave  a  Christmas  dinner,  which, 
however,  was  not  so  bountifully  supplied  with  the  game  of  the 
country  as  the  feast  of  Thanksgiving-day  at  Camp  Supply. 

Saturday  of  each  week  was  the  ration  day  of  all  the  villages 
in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Cobb.  It  was  a  great  occasion  at  the 
post.  From  sunrise  to  sunset  the  squaws,  with  their  papooses 
strapped  on  their  back,  and  mounted  on  ponies,  and  sometimes 
a  few  warriors,  could  be  seen  descending  from  every  hill.  The 
squaw's  duty  was  to  receive  the  Government  rations,  which  con 
sisted  of  flour  and  meat.  The  women  of  each  tribe  seated  them 
selves  cross-legged  on  the  ground,  with  their  papooses  around 
them.  Outside  of  the  circle  the  dogs  collected,  each  group  be 
hind  its  owner,  and  impatiently  smacking  their  lips  and  curiously 
gazing  within  over  the  shoulders  of  the  women.  The  head  civil 
chief,  aided  by  several  old  men  of  the  tribe,  received  the  rations 
and  distributed  them  to  the  various  families,  calling  them  by 
name,  whereupon  the  head  squaw  of  each  came  forward  and  re 
ceived  her  allowance.  It  was  observable  that  the  savage  chief 
was  not  unlike  more  civilized  functionaries.  He  always  went 
away  with  a  decided  increase  of  his  pile,  a  surplus  which  he 
managed  to  secure  to  himself  by  shoit  measurement. 

The  beef  was  generally  killed  by  the  young  warriors,  who 
for  that  purpose  would  visit  the  large  herds  of  Texas  cattle 
near  the  post.  This  kind  of  sport  precisely  suited  the  young 
men.  After  the  necessary  permission  from  the  officer  in  charge 
was  obtained  several  of  the  savages  with  bows  strung  would 
ride  into  the  midst  of  the  herd.  The  cattle  seemed  to  know 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  173 

what  was  going  on,  and  the  moment  a  warrior  put  his  eye  upon 
one,  the  "  spotted"  bovine  took  to  his  heels  as  hard  as  he  could 
travel.  The  warriors  dashed  after,  and  coming  up  alongside 
launched  an  arrow  into  the  side  of  the  terrified  brute.  Having 
dispatched  the  animal  several  squaws  would  set  to  work  with 
knives  and  axes  skinning  and  dividing  the  carcass  according  to 
the  number  of  families  entitled  to  it.  As  might  be  supposed 
there  was  always  some  dispute  and  dissatisfaction.  Some  com 
plaining  they  did  not  get  their  share.  A  strong  guard  was 
always  ready  to  put  down  any  serious  difficulty. 

A  crowd  of  several  hundred  squaws,  it  may  be  imagined,  was 
not  a  bad  place  for  forming  some  notions  of  Indian  beauty. 
The  better  class  always  presented  themselves  at  these  gather 
ings  in  their  best  "  outfits."  The  hard  lot  of  the  squaw  is  not 
conducive  to  beauty  or  freshness,  though  examples  are  found 
of  both.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  hard  life  is  in  a  ma 
jority  of  instances  the  chief  reason  for  the  intense  ugliness  of 
the  women  of  the  southern  wild  tribes.  The  affiliated  bands 
are  less  harsh,  and  present  finer  women  and  better  developed 
men  than  any  of  the  wild  tribes.  A  Witchita,  or  a  Caddo,  in 
feature,  and  many  points  of  dress,  is  more  suggestive  of  an  Ital 
ian  brigand  than  a  plain's  savage.  The  women  of  both  these 
bands  dress  with  unsparing  extravagance.  Their  moccasins  and 
leggins  are  covered  with  plates  of  silver,  made  of  Mexican  dol 
lars  hammered  out.  Their  bucLskin  shirts  are  elaborately  deco 
rated  with  bead-work,  their  blankets  are  unusually  new  and  clean, 
about  their  person  they  carry  a  profusion  of  beads  and  shell 
and  silver  ornaments.  The  men  dress  as  well  as  the  women, 
and  wear  a  puritanic  peaked  hat,  decorated  with  great  streamers 
of  blue  and  red  ribbon,  and  when  mounted  on  their  fleet  ponies 
present  a  very  picturesque  appearance. 

The  weather  after  our  arrival  at  Fort  Cobb  became  wet  and 
stormy.  Incessant  rains  poured  upon  the  earth,  deluging  our 
camp,  and  raising  the  streams  until  they  were  entirely  impass 
able.  Such  weather  at  this  time  was  particularly  embarassing. 
as  the  supplies  were  rapidly  disappearing,  and  it  was  almost 


174  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

impossible  to  move  the  trains  for  more.  The  troops  who  had 
constructed  pits  for  their  accommodation  were  compelled  to 
seek  other  quarters.  Everywhere  the  mud  was  of  that  pe 
culiar  pasty  nature  that  it  required  more  than  an  ordinary 
amount  of  physical  exertion  to  manipulate  a  pedestrian  tour 
about  camp.  Everything  was  topsy-turvey ;  stores  piled  on 
hill  sides  under  canvas.  Officers  sat  upon  their  bunks  in  order 
to  keep  out  of  the  wet.  Hunting  and  other  amusements  were 
entirely  suspended.  The  whole  camp  was  thus  subjected  io  a 
sort  of  water  embargo,  which  was  infinitely  worse  than  snow 
or  cold.  Our  march  had  now  brought  us  down  to  a  latitude 
where,  though  snow  was  not  a  rare  occurrence,  it  was  an  ex 
ception.  The  prevailing  meteorological  displays  were  rain, 
with  an  incidental  "  norther,"  and  winding  up  with  a  variation 
of  sleet  and  ice,  trying  both  to  men  and  animals. 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  175 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

EARLY  EXPLORATIONS   ON  THE    1'LAINrf — THE    SPANIARDS — TUB   FRENCH — THK 
AMERICANS — THE  OCCUPANTS  01''  TIIE  COUNTRY — THE  COMANCHES. 

PURPOSE  here  devoting  several  chapters  to  the  tra 
ditions,  localities,  manners,   and  customs  of  the  wild 
Indians,  against  whom  the  operations  of  the  campaign 
were  directed.     In  the  same  connection,  it  will  be  neces 
sary,  in  order  briefly  to  introduce  the  subject,  to  say 
something  concerning  our  own  knowledge  of  the  discovery  and 
exploration  of  the  country. 

Owing  mainly  to  the  remoteness  and  inaccessibility  of  the 
plains,  until  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  this  section 
was  comparatively  unknown.  We  are  indebted  to  Spanish 
dominion  in  Mexico  for  our  first  accounts.  Having  planted 
their  flag  upon  the  halls  of  the  Montezumas,  the  daring  soldiers 
of  Spain,  in  search  of  mountains  of  gold  and  silver,  fields  of 
gems  and  precious  stones,  fountains  of  everlasting  youth,  and 
under  the  impulse  of  other  notions,  equally  as  extravagant, 
Bitted  out  expeditions  into  all  parts  of  the  adjacent  countries. 

From  the  narratives  of  such  often  long  and  toilsome  journeys, 
history  has  frequently  gleaned  a  ray  of  light,  and  making  due 
allowance  for  the  magnified  intellectual  vision  of  these  pioneer 
travelers,  much  that  is  reliable  is  to  be  gathered.  The  first 
description  we  have  of  the  country,  answering  to  that  of  which 
I  have  been  speaking,  is  contained  in  an  early  Spanish  work, 
subsequently  translated  into  French,  and  entitled  "  Relation  du 
voyage  de  Cibola  entrepris  en  1540,  ou  Von  traite  de  toutcs  let 
pcupladcs  qui  liabitent  cette  coutree,  des  leurs  moeyrs  et  coutumet 


176  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

par  Pedro  de  Castaneda  de  Nagera"  The  work  contains  an 
account  of  the  journey  of  Francisco  Vasquenz  Coronado,  from 
Cicuye,  New  Mexico,  in  search  of  the  "  golden  city  "  of  Qui- 
vera. 

Some  days  after  leaving  Cicuye,  the  expedition  arrived  at  a 
large  river,  which  was  also  very  deep.  Here  they  built  a  bridge, 
which  consumed  four  days.  The  writer,  with  the  expedition, 
then  proceeds  :  "  Ten  days  after,  we  discovered  some  huts  in 
habited  by  Indiana,  who  lived  as  the  Arabs,  and  we  named 
them  Quereches.  We  had  seen  their  traces  for  ten  days. 
These  Indians  live  in  tents  of  the  skin  of  bison,  tanned,  and 
live  by  the  chase."  Marching  in  a  north-easterly  direction,  the 
expedition  encountered  "  such  a  multitude  of  bison,  that  it  ap 
peared  almost  a  thing  incredible."  They  found  numerous  vil 
lages.  "  The  country  was  very  flat."  The  people  had  great 
numbers  of  dogs.  They  had  no  horses,  but  used  dogs  for  pack 
ing.  Castaneda  closes  by  saying,  "  the  Spanish  were  well 
treated,  and  the  journey,  though  it  cost  many  days  of  fatigue, 
and  was  profitless  in  lands  abounding  in  wealth,  there  was  much 
knowledge  gained  of  the  country." 

It  is  probable,  from  other  evidences  gathered,  in  descriptions 
of  localities,  met  with  in  the  narrative  alluded  to,  that  the  travels 
of  the  party  extended  to  the  stream  now  known  as  the  Red 
river,  if  they  did  not  cross  it.  The  accounts  answer  for  that 
section.  The  country  along  its  banks  is  a  favorite  resort  for 
innumerable  bison  or  buffaloes.  The  people,  too,  answer  in 
every  respect.  They  still  live  in  huts  or  lodges,  made  of  the 
skin  of  the  bison,  and  possess  numerous  dogs.  Their  traditions, 
also,  show  that  an  early  day  there  were  no  horses,  and  dogs 
•were  used  instead  for  transporting  all  the  effects  of  the  village. 
Accepting  this  testimony,  we  must  accede  to  the  Spanish  adven 
turers  of  Mexico,  over  three  centuries  ago,  the  honor  of  first  lay 
ing  eyes  upon  the  country  of  which  we  are  now  speaking.  About 
the  same  time  that  De  Soto,  from  the  east,  was  traversing  the 
extensive  country  of  the  present  states  of  Florida,  Georgia, 
Alabama,  and  Mississippi,  overcoming  numerous  and  powerful 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  177 

armies  of  warriors,  climbing  mountains,  penetrating  trackless 
forests,  crossing  rivers,  wading  interminable  swamps,  and  crown 
ing  his  work  by  the  discovery  of  the  great  river  of  the  conti 
nent,  Coronado,  from  the  golden  lands  of  Mexico,  crossed 
pathless,  treeless  wastes,  under  parching  heats,  and  gave  to  the 
world  the  first  knowledge  of  that  vast  region,  the  American 
plains. 

Whatever  may  have  been  their  motives,  to  such  daring  ad 
venturers  as  De  Soto  and  Coronado,  we  must,  at  least,  offer  a 
passing  tribute  of  admiration  for  their  courage,  their  persever 
ance,  and  their  success  as  explorers. 

In  the  early  years  of  French  dominion,  on  the  lower  waters 
of  the  Mississippi,  a  party  was  sent  out  under  the  auspices  of 
the  imperial  government,  to  explore  the  Red  river  regions. 
Meeting  with  numerous  hindrances  in  the  hostility  of  the  people, 
and  the  impassable  nature  of  the  country,  and  having  reached 
the  present  town  of  Natchitoches,  in  Louisiana,  they  returned 
after  a  fruitless  expenditure  of  time,  energy,  and  money.  In 
1806,  the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  having  become  a  portion  of 
the  United  States,  Captain  Sparks,  Lieutenant  Humphrey,  a 
Dr.  Curtis,  Mr.  Freeman,  and  seventeen  soldiers,  started  from 
near  Natchez  to  ascend  the  Red  river.  The  expedition  was 
known  as  the  exploring  party  of  the  Red  river.  They  had  pro 
ceeded  but  a  short  distance  above  the  great  "  raft,"  when  they 
were  confronted  by  a  force  of  Spanish,  probably  on  the  same 
mission.  Being  refused  passage  through  the  country,  and  unable 
to  insist,  the  party  retraced  their  steps. 

In  the  same  year,  another  government  exploring  expedition 
set  out  under  Lieutenant  Pike.  The  instructions  were  to  ascend 
the  Arkansas  to  its  source,  thence  to  strike  across  the  country 
to  the  head  waters  of  the  Red  river,  and  return  down  that  stream. 
After  a  toilsome  journey,  attended  with  numerous  privations 
and  great  suffering,  they  reached  the  head  waters  of  the  Arkan 
sas.  From  this  point  they  marched  across  country  until  arriving 
at  a  stream  flowing  east.  Taking  this  to  be  the  Red,  they  com 
menced  its  descent.  Subsequent  events  showed  it  to  be  the 

12 


178  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

Rio  Grande.  They  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Spanish  and 
Bent  to  the  governor  of  New  Mexico,  by  whom  they  were  held 
for  some  time. 

In  the  summer  of  1820,  Major  Long  conducted  an  explora 
tion  along  the  Canadian  river,  the  middle  stream  between  the 
Arkansas  and  the  Red'.  Thirty  years  later,  Captain,  (now  Gen 
eral)  R.  B.  Marcy,  accompanied  by  Captain,  (General)  George 
B.  McClellan,  Lieutenant  J.  Updegraff,  Dr.  R.  G.  Shnrnard, 
and  fifty-five  men  of  company  D,  5th  infantry,  were  detailed 
to  make  an  exploration  of  the  Red  river  and  country  adjacent 
from  the  mouth  of  Cache  creek.  The  party  having  laid  in  a 
stock  of  provisions  at  Fort  Belknap,  on  the  Brazos  river,  in 
Texas,  got  started  early  in  the  spring.  On  May  9,  1852,  they 
were  at  the  mouth  of  Cache  creek.  The  explorations  were  very 
thorough.  Up  to  this  time  the  section  set  apart  as  the  field  of 
their  labors  was  entirely  unknown.  They  returned  laden  with 
stores  of  information  of  the  character  of  the  country,  its  topog 
raphy,  its  soil,  and  its  productions.  In  later  years,  other  expe 
ditions  have  been  sent  out,  each  of  which  has  contributed  its 
share  to  the  general  stock  of  geographical  knowledge. 

The  plains,  according  to  the  unsatisfactory  and  indefinite 
assertions  of  Indian  legends  and  traditions  have,  for  ages,  been 
the  home  of  various  tribes  of  Indians.  The  peculiar  physical 
features  of  the  country,  soon  had  an  effect  upon  their  habits, 
thoughts,  and  superstitions.  Whatever  may  have  been  their 
characteristic  development  previously,  a  long  occupation  of  the 
country  unquestionably,  not  primitively,  inhabited  by  the  pres 
ent  representatives  of  the  race,  produced  a  type  of  the  American 
Indian,  distinct  in  his  mode  of  living,  tribal,  and  individual 
relations,  superstitions,  religion,  government,  and  war. 

By  the  wild  Indians,  I  mean  those  still  following  the  habits, 
customs,  and  mode  of  life  inherited  from  their  ancestors,  un 
modified  by  the  least  step  towards  changing  their  condition — 
the  enemy  to  progress,  and  the  implacable  foe  to  civilization. 

These  tribes,  in  the  south,  are  the  Kiowas,  Comanches, 
Cheyennes,  Arrapahoes,  and  Apaches,  (Lepans).  Although 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  179 

several  bands  of  Sioux  frequently  move  south  of  the  Platte, 
and  hunt  along  the  head  waters  of  the  Republican,  mingling 
with  the  northern  bands  of  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes,  prop 
erly  they  belong  to  the  plain  country  northward,  in  Nebraska 
and  Dakota. 

Midway  between  the  Platte  and  Red  rivers,  flows  the  Arkan 
sas,  having  its  fountain  sources  in  the  heart  of  the  Rocky 
mountains  of  Colorado,  following  a  general  easterly  direction 
almost  the  entire  width  of  the  plains,  and  dividing  them  into 
two  almost  equal  divisions.  The  stretch  of  territory  south  of 
the  Arkansas  is  not  only  the  home  of  the  largest  Indian  popu 
lation  of  any  section  of  equal  area,  but  also  constitutes  the  chosen 
hunting-grounds  over  which  the  wild  tribes  roam. 

None  of  these  tribes  claim  this  country  as  the  primitive  seat 
of  their  people ;  but  the  more  powerful  nations,  in  their  migra 
tions,  taking  possession  by  force,  the  weaker  were  pushed  along 
in  search  of  new  abodes,  and,  in  turn,  also  displaced  an  earlier 
population. 

From  a  comparison  of  the  respective  claims  of  the  wild  tribes, 
upon  the  authority  of  tradition  and  the  recollections  of  the  oldest 
men,  the  Comanches,  as  they  are  improperly  designated,  were 
the  first  of  the  present  occupants  to  make  their  appearance  in 
the  country.  In  general  terms,  these  people  say  that  tbey  came 
from  the  south,  and,  within  the  memory  of  their  living  men; 
occupied  the  immense  and  fertile  region  bordering  on  the  Brazos 
and  the  Colorado,  and  thence  extended  in  the  direction  of  the 
Rio  Grande  and  the  Rio  Pecos,  now  embraced  in  western  Texas. 
The  Brazos  was  the  seat  of  their  council-fires,  and  from  this 
section,  remote  from  pursuit,  for  years  these  renowned  horsemen 
and  warriors  of  the  plains  kept  up  a  state  of  unrelenting  hos 
tility  against  the  Mexicans.  Their  war-parties  penetrated  beyond 
the  Rio  Grande,  into  Chihuahua  and  Sonora,  and  even  down 
into  the  heart  of  old  Mexico,  spreading  terror  and  devastation 
almost  to  the  very  gates  of  the  capital.  Cities  and  towns  were 
taken,  and  the  alcaldes  and  chief  men,  upon  their  knees,  time 
and  again,  implored  clemency  at  the  hands  of  the  savage  con- 


180  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

querors.  Even  to  this  day,  large  war-parties  fit  out,  and,  from 
their  present  distant  seats,  carry  on  predatory  wars  across  the 
Rio  Grande.  In  these  forays,  they  follow  what  is  familiar  to 
the  frontiersman  as  the  Grand  Comanche  War-trail,  crossing 
the  Pecos  and  the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  Horse- head  hills. 

There  seems  to  be  little  doubt,  that,  several  centuries  ago,  the 
Comanches  were  a  portion  of  the  primitive  Mexican  population, 
and  lived  upon  the  frontiers  of  a  nation  of  people  possessing  a 
superior  civilization.  It  is  easy  to  trace  out  the  circumstances 
which  would  conduce  to  their  present  savage  condition.  Their 
mode  of  life,  their  isolation  and  indolence,  relying  principally 
upon  the  success  of  marauding  expeditions,  and  the  chase,  as 
the  means  of  gratifying  their  spirit  of  adventure,  all  tended  to 
that  end. 

The  name  "  Comanche,"  by  which  these  people  are  known, 
is  a  term  of  Mexican  origin,  meaning  "  wild  men."  In  their 
own  language,  applied  to  their  nation,  the  Comanches  call  them 
selves  "  Neum"  "  our  people."  When  speaking  of  others  of 
their  race,  they  say  " Ab-ta-witcJie"  meaning  a  "  different  peo 
ple."  When  they  see  human  figures  at  a  distance  and  are 
unable  to  distinguish  them  from  their  own  people,  they  use  the 
expression  " No  hinne-neum"  meaning  "  people  we  do  not  know." 
But  when  they  discern  them  to  be  of  their  own  nation,  they  say 
"Neum,"  "  our  people." 

The  occupation  of  Texas  by  the  whites,  and  the  wars  which 
led  to  the  acquisition  of  that  region  by  the  United  States,  forced 
the  largest  bodies  of  the  Comanches  to  fall  back,  and  ultimately 
they  occupied  the  country  north  of  the  Red  river,  while  some 
settled  in  the  Llano,  Estacado,  or  Staked  plains,  north  of  the 
Pecos. 

Of  late  years,  the  Comanches  have,  from  various  causes, 
become  divided  into  a  number  of  bands,  more  or  less  powerful, 
and  known  by  different  names,  suggested  by  some  characteristic. 
All  these  fragments  of  the  original  people  recognize  an  identity 
of  origin.  They  exhibit  no  marked  dissimilarity  of  customs 
and  habits.  Still  there  is  no  other  union  than  that  natural  feel-. 


ON   THE    BORDERS.  181 

ing  of  relationship  inspired  by  the  ties  of  blood.  These  bands 
are  influenced  by  no  common  interest ;  and,  while  they  generally 
have  maintained  peace,  as  parts  of  the  same  parent  stock,  each 
band  generally  follows  its  own  impulses. 

There  now  exist  five  different  bands  of  Comanches,  roaming 
over  the  same  country.  Although  they  claim  a  division  of  eight, 
three  of  this  number  have  lost  their  distinct  character ;  and, 
while  they  have  their  chiefs  and  head  men,  the  people  have 
divided  up,  and  have  incorporated  themselves  into  the  other 
bands. 

The  largest  subdivision  of  the  Comanches,  is  the  Qua-ha-de- 
de-chatz-kennes,  or  Antelope  Users.  This  band  inhabits  the 
Llano  Estacado,  or  Staked  Plains,  and  keeps  up  a  continual 
series  of  raids  into  Texas  and  northern  Mexico.  This  branch 
has  maintained  an  exclusion  from  all  intercourse  with  the  gov 
ernment,  and  the  barren,  unexplored,  and  inaccessible  nature 
of  their  haunts,  has  given  them,  thus  far,  complete  assurance 
of  security  for  their  families. 

The  Llano  Estacado,  or  Staked  Plains,  a  desolate  waste,  was 
so  named,  many  yearsago,  by  a  party  of  Mexicans,  who  for  the 
convenience  of  intercourse  with  the  tribes  to  the  north,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  communicating  with  the  American  settlements, 
marked  out  a  route  across  that  sterile  section  by  planting 
stakes. 

The  remaining  bands  of  the  Comanches,  are  the  Cost-che- 
teghtkas,  or  Buffalo  Eaters;  Yamparikos,  or  Root  Diggers; 
Peneteghtkaa,  or  Honey  Eaters ;  and  No-ko-nees,  or  Wander 
ers,  The  three  bands  broken  up,  are  the  Moochas,  or  Crooked 
Mountain  band ;  Ten-na-was,  or  Liver  Eaters  ;  and  Tea-chatz- 
kennas,  or  Servers.  These  bands  roam  over  the  country  bor 
dering  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Bed  river,  and  as  far  as  the 
Canadian. 

About  twenty-five  years  ago,  these  people  were  cut  up  into 
three  grand  divisions — northern,  middle,  and  southern  Coman 
ches — designated  by  the  names,  Ten-na-was,  Yamparikos,  and 
Comanches  proper.  Each  of  these  divisions  was  subdivided 


182  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

into  bands.  The  southern  Comanches  at  that  time  roamed  in 
Texas,  extending  their  movements  from  the  Red  river  to  the 
Colorado,  and  wintered  on  the  Colorado  and  Brazos.  The 
northern  Comanches  followed  the  migrations  of  the  buffalo  from 
the  Red  river  to  the  Arkansas.  The  middle  Comanches  occu 
pied  the  region  intervening.  The  No-co-nees  and  Ten-na-was 
then  wintered  in  north-western  Texas,  and  in  the  summer  sea- 
Bon  moved  north,  establishing  themselves  sometimes  as  far  as 
the  Red,  sometimes  to  the  Canadian,  and  even  visited  as  far 
north  as  the  Arkansas. 

Their  superior  character  and  intelligence,  as  well  as  their 
bravery  in  war  and  expert  horsemanship,  gives  the  Comanche 
the  precedence  in  influence  among  the  tribes  of  the  southern 
plains. 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  183 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

TRIBAL  TRADITIONS  CONTINCED--THE  KIOWA—  THE  CHEYENNE  AND  ARRAPAHOK — 

THE  DOG  SOLDIERS— THE  APACHE  (LIPANS)— INTERCOURSE 

OF  THE  FIVE   TIDES  WITH  EACH  OTHER. 

EXT  in  point  of  character  and  importance  are  the  Kio- 
was.  These  people  to-day  hold  a  kind  of  medium  of 
intercourse  between  the  Comanches  and  other  wild 
tribes  and  the  Government.  They  are  shrewd  in 
diplomacy,  and  have  frequently,  to  use  their  own  ex 
pression,  successfully  "  played  wolf  with  Washington."  The 
latter  being  the  name  by  which  the  commissioners  of  the  Gov 
ernment  are  known.  Kiowa  and  Comanche  warriors  are  often 
found  together  on  the  same  war-path,  pursue  their  hostilities 
against  the  Navajoes  in  the  mountains  of  New  Mexico,  or  divide 
the  rich  spoils  taken  from  the  heavily  laden  wagon-trains  en 
route  to  the  far  western  settlements. 

The  Kiowas  claim  that  their  primitive  country  was  in  the  far 
north.  That  other  tribes  coming  upon  them,  a  long  and  san 
guinary  war  ensued,  in  which  both  parties  were  nearly  used  up. 
Seeing  their  condition,  and  still  too  proud  to  offer  or  to  accept 
terms  of  peace,  both  withdrew.  After  remaining  for  a  while  in 
their  old  country,  continually  harrassed  by  their  enemies,  their 
hunters  brought  back  stories  of  extensive  regions  to  the  south, 
and  inhabited  by  a  people  much  weakened  by  wars.  The  entire 
tribe  resolved  to  drive  out  these  prior  occupants,  and  take  pos 
session  of  these  new  lands.  The  families  were  collected  and 
the  removal  commenced.  Their  affects  were  carried  on  dogs, 
or  sledges  drawn  by  that  animal.  From  the  north  they  reached 


184  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

a  river,  now  the  south  forth  of  the  Platte  Their  residence  upon 
the  borders  of  this  stream  is  within  the  recollection  of  the  old 
men  of  the  tribe. 

Not  satisfied  with  the  Platte  country,  they  moved  on  across 
the  Republican  and  Smoky  Hill  until  they  reached  the  Arkan 
sas.  Thence  they  moved  upon  the  head  waters  of  the  Cimma- 
ron.  Here  they  permanently  located  their  council  fire,  and 
after  much  fighting  secured  control  of  all  the  country  south  of 
the  Arkansas,  and  north  of  the  Witchita  mountains  and  head 
waters  of  the  Red  river. 

There  are  many  evidences  in  the  names  of  tributary  streams 
on  the  Upper  Missouri  indicating  that  the  Kiowas  at  one  time 
were  in  that  vicinity.  Kiowa  pride  would  not  descend  to  an 
admission  that  the  tribe  was  compelled  to  leave.  But  that  such 
was  the  case  is  hardly  to  be  doubted,  as  the  later  occupants  for 
years  past  have  proved  an  equally  brave  people,  and  have  ex 
ceeded  the  Kiowas  in  many  of  the  fiercer  qualities  of  warriors. 
It  is  also  quite  satisfactory  that  an  Indian  has  rarely  been 
known  to  desert  the  hunting-ground  of  his  fathers  unless  com 
pelled  to  do  so  by  some  extraordinary  circumstance.  It  is 
equally  certain  in  their  removal  the  Kiowas  were  not  influenced 
by  considerations  of  climate  or  country,  as  in  neither  respect  is 
the  Arkansas  preferable  to  the  regions  beyond  the  Platte.  The 
Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes  claim  some  years  ago,  to  have  had 
severe  wars  with  the  Kiowas,  and  that  they  whipped  them  to 
such  an  extent  that  they  left  the  country.  There  still  seems 
to  exist  a  latent  hostility  between  the  conquerors  and  the  con 
quered. 

The  Kiowas  preserve  a  tribal  union,  rather  remarkable  in  a 
a  region  where  such  a  variety  of  considerations  combine  to  de 
feat  the  concentration  of  large  numbers  into  a  single  body. 
They  possess  in  form  no  central  council  for  purposes  of  a  gen 
eral  government,  still,  in  fact,  the  superior  authority  of  some 
chief  gives  the  tribe  nominally  a  central  influence,  respected 
alike  by  all  the  subordinate  bands.  This  controlling  rank  has 
frequently  resulted  in  very  threatening  misunderstandings  be- 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  185 

tween  rival  aspirants  for  the  honor  of  being  head  chief,  and  it 
is  only  due  to  the  family  ties,  which  in  an  Indian  are  singularly 
strong,  that  more  serious  divisions  have  not  long  ago  occurred. 
The  requisites  needed  to  hold  this  high  rank  are  principally 
wisdom  in  council  and  bravery  in  war.  For  several  years  Sa- 
tanta  has  filled  the  office  of  head  chief.  A  peculiar  dash  of 
manner,  a  grin  equal  to  all  occasions,  a  remarkable  shrewdness 
exhibited  in  managing  affairs  between  the  different  tribes  with 
which  his  people  come  in  contact,  or  their  intercourse  with  the 
National  Government,  have  won  for  him  a  prestige  which  he 
has  very  well  maintained. 

Satanta,  when  I  met  him,  was  a  man  of  about  fifty  years  of 
age.  He  rose  first  through  prowess  on  the  war-path,  and  after 
wards  through  skill  in  council  and  diplomacy.  He  had  an  in 
telligent  face,  and  was  large  in  frame,  and  of  muscular  devel 
opment,  exhibiting  also  a  tendency  to  obesity.  Lately  Satanta 
had  found  a  threatening  rival  in  Lone  Wolf,  the  war- chief  of 
the  tribe.  While  he  still  holds  his  own  with  the  old  men,  Lone 
Wolf,  a  middle  aged  Indian,  was  the  choice  of  the  young.  In 
the  latter  the  young  warriors  found  plenty  of  encouragement 
and  opportunity  to  win  renown.  Their  restless  spirits,  craving 
the  excitement  of  the  war-path,  and  the  acquisition  of  scalps, 
naturally  sided  with  one  who  gave  way  to  their  instinctive 
thirst  for  blood. 

The  Kiowas,  for  convenience  of  subsistence,  are  divided  up 
into  smaller  parties,  led  by  a  chief  of  prominence.  These  divi 
sions  are  generally  composed  of,  and  influenced  by,  the  relatives 
of  the  chief,  and  follow  him  more  as  a  leader  of  the  family  than 
for  purposes  of  independent  action.  The  principal  bands  thus 
constituted,  and  in  the  order  of  their  importance,  are  those  of 
Satanta,  Lone  Wolf,  Timbered  Mountain,  Kicking  Bird,  and 
Stumbling  Bear.  Big  Bow,  with  his  band,  during  the  recent 
troubles,  went  over  to  the  Cheyennes,  influenced  by  jealousy 
of  his  rivals  and  hostility  to  the  Government.  In  their  general 
arrangements  the  voice  of  the  tribe  directs  any  measure  in  which 
the  whole  people  are  interested.  Upon  certain  occasions,  also, 


186  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERb 

all  the  bands  are  concentrated  in  the  same  vicinity  to  partici 
pate  in  the  important  and  solemn  ceremony  of  making  "  big 
medicine  "  for  the  year. 

As  the  result  of  a  sort  of  community  of  interest,  the  Chey- 
ennes  and  Arrapahoes  have  for  some  years  been  united  in  a 
band  of  alliance  for  war  or  peace.  Both  these  tribes  reached 
the  plains  country  from  the  north.  Their  presence  south  of 
the  Arkansas  is  within  the  memory  of  their  people.  Anterior 
to  their  habitation  upon  the  Platte,  whence  they  came  last,  they 
have  no  definite  ideas,  merely  alluding  to  their  coming  there  as 
the  result  of  their  wanderings  in  search  of  more  desirable  hunt 
ing-grounds.  They  allude  to  the  Kiowas  as  preceding  them, 
compelling  them  to  leave  the  country  and  push  farther  south. 
Upon  moving  below  the  Platte,  about  thirty  years  ago,  the 
Cheyennes  occupied  the  country  from  the  mouth  of  Beaver 
creek  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Platte,  and  between  the  Repub 
lican  and  the  Smoky  Hill  rivers,  also  away  towards  the  south 
west,  along  the  north  side  of  the  Arkansas,  west  of  the  Dry 
Fork,  and  now  embraced  in  southern  Nebraska,  the  northern 
half  of  Kansas  and  northeastern  -Colorado.  This  extensive 
region  was  the  favorite  range  of  the  buffalo.  The  multitudes 
of  this  animal,  almost  countless  even  at  the  present  day,  existed 
then  in  larger  numbers.  A  successful  traffic  in  robes,  and  an 
abundance  of  food  raised  the  pride  and  excited  the  martial 
spirit  of  the  Cheyennes,  until  they  became  the  terror  of  all  their 
enemies  whether  red  or  white.  In  the  chase,  and  on  the  war 
path,  they  early  became  associated  with  the  Arrapahoes  who 
ranged  more  particularly  upon  the  western  border  of  the  coun 
try  conquered  by  the  Cheyennes.  Thus  by  degrees,  the  one 
emulating  the  conduct  of  the  other,  the  two  people  were  led  to 
a  unity  of  purpose  which  renders  them  to-day  practically  one. 

The  fine  country  beyond  the  Platte  and  the  intermarriage  of 
some  of  the  Gheyennes  with  the  Sioux,  tended  to  a  division  of 
the  tribe.  The  separation,  however,  was  accomplished  peace 
ably,  the  withdrawing  faction  leaving  about  the  year  1848,  un 
der  its  chiefs,  Standing  Water  and  White  Cow,  and  occupying 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  18? 

the  regions  towards  the  north,  living  with  the  Sioux  between 
the  head  waters  of  the  Missouri  and  the  Platte. 

The  main  bands  now  confined  their  wanderings  more  towards 
the  Arkansas.  Reaching  that  stream,  the  warriors  frequently 
come  in  contact  with  the  Kiowas,  who  were  living  on  the  south. 
The  Kiowas,  probably,  still  bearing  in  mind  their  ancient  wars 
with  the  strangers,  were  not  in  a  spirit  to  make  the  proximity 
of  the  Cheyennes,  the  cause  of  a  renewal  of  hostilities.  The 
Cheyenne  could  still  muster  a  formidable  array  of  warriors, 
and  Kiowa  prudence  suggested  the  wisdom  of  giving  the  new 
Comers  a  hospitable  greeting.  This  amicable  course  averted  a 
fresh  outbreak  of  the  enmity  which  existed  between  the  earlier 
representatives  of  their  tribes,  and  stayed  a  war  which  would 
inevitably  have  broken  the  power,  had  it  not  effaced  the  name 
of  the  conquered. 

The  Arrapahoes  during  this  division  among  the  Cheyennes, 
stood  aloof  and  remained  with  the  main  tribe.  The  Arrapahoes, 
however,  in  turn  experienced  also  a  division,  but  of  a  less  peace 
ful  nature.  Soon  after  the  separation  of  the  Cheyenne  bands, 
an  Arrapahoe  chief  named  Nam-e-sum,  Cut  Nose,  in  a  fit  of 
intoxication  offered  some  indignity  to  a  rival.  The  warriors  on 
the  spot  took  sides,  and  a  free-fight  resulted  in  which  Cut  Nose 
was  killed.  The  warriors  of  his  faction  deserted  the  main  band 
and  went  north,  while  the  remainder  continued  with  the  south 
ern  branch  of  the  Cheyennes. 

This  division  of  the  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes  conduced  to 
a  permanent  separation  of  the  two  tribes,  now  known  by  dis 
tinct  names.  The  two  divisions  are  generally  designated  the 
northern  and  southern  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes,  They, 
however,  have  their  own  terms  of  distinction.  In  the  case  of 
the  Cheyennes,  the  northern  tribe  is  called  the  Shell  band,  from 
Mene-e-er-yah,  which  means  shell,  the  Indian  name  for  the 
Platte  (Shell)  river  near  which  they  lived.  They  are  also 
known  as  the  Missison  or  Eater's  band.  The  southern  tribe  is 
known  as  the  Flint  band,  from  Mutesohue,  meaning  flint,  the 
Indian  name  for  the  Arkansas  (Flint)  river,  the  largest  stream 


188  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

near  which  they  roamed.  They  are  also  known  as  the  Ha-vah 
tan-ye  or  Hairy  band. 

The  Cheyennes  having  been  first  in  the  country,  and  tho 
ruling  tribe,  were  entitled  to  the  names  suggested  by  the  loca 
tion  of  their  council  fires.  The  Arrapahoes  assumed  names 
indicating  the  former  identity  of  the  two  parts  of  the  tribe. 
The  conquering  portion  which  remained  with  the  Cheyennes, 
took  the  name  of  Teneveu,  Father,  or  Suck-breast  band.  The 
other  Nam-e-sum,  or  Cut  Nose  band.  It  is  asserted  by  some 
facetious  individual,  that  this  latter  appellation  was  figurative 
in  allusion  to  that  principal  of  vulgar  philosophy  known  to 
ourselves  in  the  homely  illustration  of  "  cutting  off  the  nose  to 
spite  the  face."  It  would  certainly  be  a  very  emphatic  manner 
of  recognizing  the  folly  which  induced  the  warriors  to  engage 
in  hostility  upon  so  slight  a  pretense.  Another  and  more  plau 
sible  explanation  is  that  the  seceded  band  got  its  name  from 
the  refractory  chief  whose  cause  it  espoused,  the  chief  having 
obtained  his  peculiar  cognomen,  some  years  before,  as  a  perpetu 
ation  of  a  series  of  brawls,  in  one  of  which  he  carried  off  a 
"  Cut  Nose  "  as  a  memorial  of  the  occasion. 

In  the  wanderings  of  the  Cheyennes  as  they  increased  in 
numbers,  the  tribe  was  subject  to  another  division.  This  third 
branch  under  Long  Chin  and  Little  Grey  Head,  seated  them 
selves  more  particularly  upon  the  head  waters  of  the  Republi 
can  river,  thence  south  towards  the  Smoky  Hill,  and  north 
towards  the  Platte.  These  are  now  known  as  the  Ho-tam-e-tan- 
yer  or  Dog  Soldiers.  How  this  name  originated  is  not  men 
tioned.  It  has  been  asserted  that  the  warriors  are  composed 
of  outlaws  from  the  other  two  branches  of  the  parent  stock  and 
hence  call  "  dog  soldiers,"  but  this  is  denied  by  the  warriors 
themselves,  as  well  as  by  the  fact  of  the  friendly  relations  pre 
served  with  the  remainder  of  the  tribe.  Nor  is  it  from  the  fact 
that  they  specially  consume  dogs,  as  this  is  a  peculiarity  of 
taste  in  all  of  the  Cheyennes. 

Thus  we  discover  the  Cheyennes  divided  into  three  branches, 
the  northern  inhabiting  beyond  the  Platte,  the  "Dog  Soldiers  " 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  189 

south  of  the  Platte,  and  the  Southern  band  south  of  the 
Arkansas.  These  different  divisions,  though  broken  into  small 
er  bodies,  and  following  different  leaders,  preserved  a  rigid  union. 

The  word  Cheyenne  is,  unquestionably,  a  term  of  designation 
applied  in  earlier  days  by  the  voyageurs,  from  Canada,  who 
resorted  to  the  plains  country  in  the  far  west.  The  Cheyennes 
are  particularly  fond  of  dogs,  served  up  in  the  various  methods 
known  to  their  rude  art  of  cooking.  In  the  absence  of  a  know 
ledge  of  the  language,  or  to  distinguish  them  from  other  Indians, 
not  so  intensely  ungrateful  towards  the  most  faithful  brute  com 
panion  of  the  human  race,  the  voyagcurs  designated  these  people 
tersely  "  Chiens."  From  this,  not  knowing  the  word  originally 
to  have  been  French,  the  American  pronunciation,  as  well  as 
orthography,  would  naturally  suggest  "  Cheyennes,"  These 
people  call  themselves  His-ta-e-yet.  This  term  of  designation, 
and  Arrapahoe,  have  no  meaning  in  our  own  tongue.  The 
Comanches  call  the  Arrapahoes,  Sayre-teghtka,  or  Dog-eaters. 

Though  the  fight  for  dominion  has  now  been  forgotten  be 
tween  the  rival  factions  of  the  Arrapahoes,  the  two  bands  keep 
up  the  old  division  as  regards  locality.  In  the  war  with  the 
government,  all  the  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes  took  the  war 
path,  and  parties  of  warriors  from  the  northern  bands  were 
known  to  have  moved  from  their  remote  seats  to  assist  their 
southern  relatives  upon  the  Washita  and  the  Red. 

The  fifth  and  least  important  of  .the  wild  tribes,  south  of  the 
Arkansas,  is  the  Lipans.  These  people  are  improperly  known 
as  Apaches,  and  so  called  in  the  official  documents  of  the  gov 
ernment.  They  say  of  themselves  that  they  are  not  Apaches, 
that  the  Apaches  live  away  to  the  west.  As  an  additional  evi 
dence  of  the  truth  of  this,  the  tribe  speaks  a  language  of  its  own, 
distinct  from  that  used  by  the  Mescelero  and  Jacarillo,  or  true 
Apaches  of  New  Mexico.  Some  years  ago  the  Lipans  lived  in 
western  Texas,  and  have  always  been  on  friendly  terms  with 
the  Comanches,  their  neighbors.  At  that  time  they  could 
gather  a  formidable  force  of  warriors,  but  owing  to  feuds  and 
wars  with  the  whites,  they  became  divided  in  power  and  de- 


190  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

pleted  in  numbers.  A  separation  took  place,  one  branch  seeking 
refuge  in  old  Mexico,  where  they  are  now  living,  the  other 
moved  north  towards  the  Red  river,  and  form  the  small  band 
found  on  the  plains,  and  improperly  called  the  Apaches.  It  is 
understood  that  the  Mexican  wing  of  the  tribe  have  left  that 
country,  and  are  on  their  way  to  join  the  band  on  the  southern 
plains  in  north-western  Texas  and  the  Indian  territories. 

There  is  a  tradition  among  the  Lipans,  that  many  years  ago 
they  occupied  the  region  known  as  the  "  bad  ground,"  an  exceed 
ingly  desolate  and  broken  country  between  the  head  waters  of 
the  Missouri  and  the  Platte,  and  from  here  they  wandered  south 
until  they  reached  Texas.  There  is  no  other  authority  for  this 
than  their  own  story. 

The  relations  existing  amongst  the  five  wild  tribes  are  of  a 
friendly  character,  for  the  common  object  of  marauding  upon 
the  settlements.  The  Comanche  excels  in  horsemanship,  the 
Kiowa  in  duplicity,  and  the  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes  in  the 
more  decisive  qualities  of  warriors.  The  Apaches  (Lipans), 
are  few  in  numbers  and  weak  in  influence.  In  their  movements 
they  are  swayed  by  the  wishes  of  the  Comanches  and  Kiowas. 

In  the  organization  of  war-parties,  composed  of  warriors  of 
the  different  tribes,  certain  ceremonies  of  negotiation  are  ob 
served.  Any  band  wishing  to  go  to  war  sends  messengers, 
asking  its  friends  to  furnish  warriors  for  an  expedition.  This 
mission  bears  with  it  the  council  pipe,  and  is  accompanied  by 
ponies  as  presents,  to  encourage  the  favorable  consideration  of 
the  proposition.  A  council  is  held  in  which  the  whole  matter 
is  fully  discussed.  If  the  band  accepts  the  pipe  and  smokes, 
the  request  is  granted,  and  the  warriors  of  the.  band,  or  rather 
such  as  choose,  extend  their  co-operation.  After  this  ceremony, 
warriors  from  all  the  bands  rendezvous  at  a  given  point,  and 
start  upon  their  errand  of  atrocity  and  spoliation.  To  decline 
acceding  to  the  proposition  to  take  the  war-path,  frequently  oc 
curs  from  policy  or  necessity.  The  band  seeking  for  assist 
ance,  if  not  successful  in  gathering  a  sufficient  number  of  war 
riors  to  make  up  the  necessary  strength,  abandons  its  project. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  191 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

RIVALRY  BETWEEN   THE   MOUNTAIN  AND   PLAINS    TRIBES— HOSTILITY    AGAINST 

THE   RESERVATION    INDIANS — THE    INDIAN  PONY — PHYSIQUE   OF  THE 

SAYAGE — PHYSIOGNOMY — THE   SEXES — DRESS — ORNAMENTS — 

PAINT — SUBSISTENCE — TRIBAL  ORGANIZATION — JUSTICE. 

ROM  the  earliest  times  of  which  we  have  any  record, 
the  plains  have  been  a  common  battle-ground.  From 
time  immemorial,  there  has  existed  a  particularly  fierce 
and  unyielding  hostility  between  the  mountain  and  the 
plains  Indians.  The  mountain-tribes,  a  more  hardy 
and  bolder  type  of  the  lace,  have  generally  proved  too  much 
for  the  warriors  of  the  open  country.  The  leaders  in  these 
incursions  were  the  Utes  and  the  Navajoes,  who  still  make 
occasional  descents  from  their  mountain  fastnesses,  spreading 
terror  far  and  wide  among  the  plains  bands.  Their  warlike 
expeditions  form  an  important  chapter  in  the  traditions  of  the 
Kiowas  and  Comanches  especially.  Time  and  again  the  war 
riors  of  both  these  tribes  have  been  routed,  and  the  mountain 
warrior  has  returned  to  his  retreats  laden  with  scalps  to  attest 
his  prowess  in  battle,  and  large  herds  of  ponies  and  many 
squaws  as  the  the  fruits  of  victory. 

The  plains  Indians  are  not  known  ever  to  have  retaliated  by 
pursuing  their  enemies  on  their  own  grounds.  It  is  true,  that, 
at  certain  seasons,  they  still  send  their  bravest  men  into  the 
mountains  to  cut  lodge-poles ;  but,  upon  nearing  the  dangerous 
country  of  their  terrible  adversaries,  they  move  cautiously,  and 
well  examine  their  path  before  venturing  too  far.  Having  se 
cured  their  lodge-poles,  they  usually  retreat  with  the  utmost 
dispatch  until  out  of  reach  of  pursuit. 


192  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

Many  of  the  tribes  seated  on  reservations  near  the  settle 
ments  are  also  in  the  habit  of  visiting  the  plains  annually  to 
kill  buffalo.  These  expeditions,  fraught  with  dangers  at  the 
hands  of  the  vigilant  wild  tribes,  are  organized  with  the  same 
ceremonies  that  attend  the  gathering  of  a  war-party.  Though 
for  the  special  object  of  the  chase,  they  adopt  the  precaution 
of  making  every  preparation  to  repel  attacks,  and,  while  en 
gaged  in  killing  buffalo,  detachments  of  warriors  are  constantly 
employed,  scouring  the  plain,  on  the  look-out  for  the  approach 
of  hostile  Indians.  The  tribes  possessing,  or  rather  occupying, 
the  country,  jealous  of  these  intrusions,  are  constantly  on  the 
watch ;  and  it  rarely  happens  that  a  hunting-party  returns 
without  a  fight,  or,  at  least,  being  pursued. 

In  addition  to  the  many  distinctions,  in  regard  to  manners 
and  customs,  between  the  mountain  and  the  plains  Indians,  we 
find  a  still  more  marked  difference  of  habits,  caused,  in  a  great 
measure,  by  the  use  of  the  horse,  or,  more  particularly,  the 
smaller  and  hardier  variety  of  the  species,  known  as  the  Indian 
pony.  Natural  history  informs  us  that  the  horse  is  not  a  native 
of  the  American  continent.  We  are  informed  that  the  horse 
first  makes  his  appearance  in  America,  in  connection  with  the 
Spanish  adventurers,  and  first  landed  on  the  south-western 
portion  of  the  continent  with  Cortez  and  his  followers.  The 
terror  at  first  inspired  by  the  presence  of  this  noble  animal, 
went  far  towards  overcoming  the  primitive  Aztecs,  in  the  ro 
mantic  and  daring  conquest  of  Cortez.  The  constant  shock 
of  battle  soon  familiarized  the  inhabitants  of  Mexico  with  the 
submissive  and  subordinate  nature  of  the  horse.  Forgetting 
his  supposed  preternatural  origin,  they  preserved  those  taken 
from  their  enemies  ;  and  the  species  was  still  more  rapidly  dis 
seminated  by  the  subsequent  establishment  of  Spanish  dominion 
in  the  country.  We  find  the  animal  soon  taking  part  with  the 
natives  in  domestic  industry,  public  ceremony,  arid  war.  The 
intercourse  between  the  progenitors  of  the  modern  Comanches 
and  the  Mexicans,  soon  put  the  former  in  possession  of  so  val 
uable  an  assistance  in  prosecuting  their  predatory  incursions 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  193 

beyond  the  Rio  Grande.  The  nature  of  the  country,  and  the 
indolence  of  the  savage,  conduced  to  a  high  appreciation  of  the 
usefulness  of  the  horse.  The  plains  of  Texas,  with  their  fine 
streams  of  water  and  luxuriant  pasturage,  were  well  adapto.  to 
the  habits  of  the  animal.  In  the  lapse  of  years,  each  band  ,ad 
its  herds,  and  the  maximum  of  Indian  wealth  was  the  posses 
sion  of  numerous  ponies. 

Changes  of  climate  and  other  circumstances,  led  to  an  almost 
new  creation,  which  we  meet  to-day  in  the  Indian  pony.  This 
new  type  of  the  species,  not  only  differs  in  stature  and  is  more 
tractable  and  full  of  endurance,  but  is  more  generally  adapted 
to  the  purpose  and  condition  of  the  Indian  of  the  plains  than 
the  highly  developed  parent  species  would  be. 

The  Indian  pony  enables  the  savage  warrior  to  scour  the 
expanse  from  the  Missouri  to  the  mountains  westward,  and 
from  the  southern  verge  of  civilization  to  the  distant  limits  of 
Dakota.  It  enables  him  to  transport  his  villages,  his  squaws, 
and  his  papooses,  wherever  his  nomadic  instincts  prompt ;  and 
the  same  food  which  subsists  the  countless  buffaloes  suffices 
to  keep  the  strength  of  the  Indian  pony.  It  is,  therefore,  not 
surprising  nor  unnatural  that  the  warrior's  first  ambition  should 
be  the  possession  of  this  valuable  animal.  With  his  shield  to 
defend  him  from  the  feathered  shafts  of  his  enemies,  with  his 
bow  and  arrow  as  a  means  to  vindicate  his  prowess,  and  scalps 
to  reward  his  triumph,  with  his  pony  to  carry  him  through  the 
dangers  of  battle  and  to  assist  him  in  the  acquisition  of  spoils, 
the  young  warrior  mounts  his  way  to  eminence  and  influence, 
emulating  the  great  and  brave,  and  frequently  rivaling  them  in 
deeds  to  be  handed  down  in  tradition. 

In  the  use  of  the  horse,  taking  the  term  in  its  generic  sense,  \ 
the  plains  Indians  more  particularly  differ  from  those  of  the 
mountains.  The  latter  conduct  their  war  operations  on  foot, 
march  long  distances,  and  engage  their  enemies  from  behind 
trees  and  rocks,  or  depend  upon  the  irregularities  of  surface  as 
a  defence.  They  excel  in  muscular  development  and  cunning. 
Their  capacity  of  endurance  is  greater,  and  mode  of  living 


194  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

more  rude.  Their  sphere  of  warlike  operations  is  necessarily 
limited ;  but  their  fights  are  attended  with  greater  determination, 
courage,  and  personal  exertion.  Some  of  the  mountain  tribes, 
bordering  the  plains,  possess  a  few  horses,  captured  by  their 
war- parties  to  the  open  country.  These  they  use,  when  they 
have  them,  more  for  speedy  transportation  and  convenience, 
than  as  an  actual  necessity.  On  the  other  hand,  the  plains 
Indian  is  entirely  governed  by  the  use  of  the  pony.  To  such 
an  extent  has  it  become  part  of  his  every-day  life,  that,  without 
it,  he  would  be  compelled  to  make  a  radical  change  in  his  habits 
and  ideas.  The  warrior  of  the  plains  takes  pride  in  his  horse 
manship — sometimes  dignified,  again  reckless,  and  often  novel. 
Depending  upon  his  mount,  he  displays  less  of  true  courage, 
striving  to  terrify  by  well-concerted  demonstrations  and  bold 
dashes.  He  fears  a  dismounted  adversary,  and  takes  to  flight 
rather  than  engage,  except  with  overwhelming  numbers  in  his 
favor. 

The  Comanches  boast  of  having  been  the  first  Indians  to  use 
the  horse,  and,  with  a  wonderful  degree  of  self  importance, 
claim  to  have  introduced  that  valuable  animal  to  the  whites,  as 
well  as  to  others  of  their  own  race.  In  fact  the  horse,  accord 
ing  to  themselves,  was,  originally,  specially  created  by  the 
Great  Spirit  for  their  use.  The  old  men  say  that  they  recol 
lect  when  the  Kiowas  were  poor,  and  used  squaws,  dogs,  and 
sledges  to  move  their  villages,  and  their  warriors  went  on  foot, 
but  now  they  were  rich,  and  had  more  ponies  than  the  Co 
manches. 

The  plains  warrior  exhibits  less  muscular  development  than 
those  of  his  race  occupying  the  mountain  districts,  although  his 
wild  and  independent  life  would  seem  to  induce  the  most  per 
fect  specimens  of  manly  form.  The  fact  is  almost  the  reverse. 
He  is  tall,  but  his  limbs  are  small  and  badly  shaped,  showing 
'more  sinew  than  muscle.  His  chest,  however,  is  deep  and 
square.  His  bearing  is  erect,  with  legs  considerably  bowed, 
the  effect  of  constant  use  of  the  saddle.  His  hair  is  long  and 
black,  and  worn  at  full  length,  streaming  over  his  shoulders. 


ON    THE    BORDERS.  195 

The  scalp-lock,  or  hair  growing  on  a  diameter  of  two  inches  on 
the  vertex  of  the  skull,  is  artistically  plaited.  His  beard,  mous 
tache,  and  eyebrows  he  plucks  out.  The  object  of  this  muti 
lation  of  nature  is  nothing  more  than  the  gratification  of  a  sin 
gular  phase  of  vanity.  The  practice  has  a  tendency  to  produce 
a  feminine  appearance. 

In  physiognomy  we  find  in  the  plains  Indian  a  greater 
diversity  than  would  be  supposed.  Some  have  features  per 
fectly  Caucasian,  while  others  closely  resemble  the  narrow- 
faced  Malay,  or  the  oval-countenanced  Mongolian,  and  with 
the  different  shades  of  color,  from  a  dark  reddish  brown  to  a 
perfect  olive. 

For  the  purpose  of  arguing  the  origin  of  the  race,  as  far  as 
the  plains  Indians  are  concerned,  judging  from  their  resemblance 
to  any  particular  people  of  the  old  world,  a  sufficient  variety 
of  facial  angles  could  be  found  to  support  any  theory.  The 
expansive  flat  face,  high  and  receding  forehead,  sharp  and  small 
black  eyes,  thin  lips,  well  arched  mouth,  high  cheek-bones,  nose 
more  or  less  beaked,  or  Roman,  and  rather  flat  across  the  bridge, 
but  thinning  out  towards  the  point,  ears  large,  well  formed,  and 
setting  well  upon  the  head,  represents  the  type  most  commonly 
met  with.  Specimens  are  often  seen  bearing  close  resemblance 
to  the  subjects  of  several  European  nations.  We  have  seen 
one  band,  except  in  color,  perfect  Italians,  a  few  resembling  the 
Germans,  and  quite  a  number  the  Jews  of  to-day. 

These  varieties,  in  connection  with  the  general  type,  appear 
in  all  the  five  wild  tribes.  The  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes  are 
more  purely  Indian,  and  the  finest  models.  The  Kiowas  and 
Lipans  stand  next.  The  Comanche  in  numerous  instances  is 
adulterated  with  the  blood  of  the  Mexican,  either  by  capture  or 
intermarriage. 

The  women  of  the  plains  tribes,  though  smaller  in  stature, 
show  a  much  more  perfect  development.  The  relations  between 
the  sexes  is  the  same  in  nearly  all  cases — that  is,  they  are  the 
servants  or  slaves.  All  the  labor  performed  in  an  Indian  vil 
lage,  taking  down  or  setting  up  the  lodges,  packing  for  trans- 


196  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

portatiou,  saddling  the  ponies,  cooking,  tanning  robes,  making 
moccasins,  doing  bead-work,  providing  covering  for  the  body 
out  of  the  skins  brought  in  by  the  warrior,  and  the  raising  of 
children,  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  women.  The  sphere  of  the  men 
is  to  hunt  and  to  supply  the  lodge  with  game  and  skins,  and  to 
take  scalps  from  their  enemies  wherever  they  find  them. 

The  general  characteristics  of  the  sexes  are  in  the  man  a 
boasting  spirit,  no  moral  and  little  anifnal  courage,  consummate 
indolence,  and  intolerable  pride,  and  a  fiendish  thirst  for  blood. 
In  the  women  we  find  patience,  a  degree  of  tenderness,  indus 
try,  devotion,  and  ingenuity.  They  are  particularly  timid,  and 
frequently  set  off  in  a  regular  stampede  from  some  imaginary 
or  real  cause.  On  these  occasions  it  is  useless  for  the  men  to 
attempt  to  use  their  authority.  The  usual  argument  adminis 
tered  towards  refractory  squaws,  such  as  kicks,  cuffs,  and  vio 
lent  floggings,  are  at  sueh  times  perfectly  powerless,  so  the  men, 
or  a  portion  of  them,  go  with  the  mass,  rather  to  regulate  than  to 
control  their  movements.  Condemned  to  a  sphere  of  drudgery 
and  domestic  oppression,  it  would  naturally  be  supposed  that  the 
women  would  be  gross  and  hideous.  Although  beauty  in  its 
higher  sense  is  rare,  many  winning  faces  will  be  seen  in  the  In 
dian  village.  The  children  are  uncommonly  good  looking.  The 
old  women  are  perfect  frights.  Although  the  young  and  mid 
dle  aged  are  generally  well  formed,  with  full  development  of 
bust,  well  defined  lines,  and  limbs  of  beautiful  proportion,  the 
points  of  special  attraction  are  their  diminutive  hands  and  feet. 
Encased  in  a  beautifully  ornamented  and  well-fitted  moccasin, 
and  leggins  of  buckskin,  tightly  laced,  the  foot  and  ankle  are 
set  off  to  advantage,  and  not  unlike  the  more  refined  of  their 
eex  of  the  white  race,  are  as  much  objects  of  pride  on  the  part 
of  their  possessors  as  they  are  the  subject  of  silent  and  fre 
quently  outspoken  admiration  with  that  curious  creattfre  called 
man. 

The  actual  dress  of  the  plains  Indian  is  excessively  primi 
tive,  consisting  in  summer  of  a  breech-clout,  moccasins,  and  leg- 
gins.  In  winter  this  attire  is  reinforced  by  a  buffalo  robe,  worn 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  197 

with  the  hair  inside,  and  wrapped  the  whole  length  of  the  body; 
with  a  sufficient  allowance  to  cover  the  head.  The  robe  is  held 
in  place  by  a  belt  around  the  waist.  On  milder  days  the  por 
tion  of  the  robe  above  the  belt  is  allowed  to  fall  back,  which 
leaves  the  upper  part  of  the  body  perfectly  bare,  while  around 
the  legs  it  makes  a  sort  of  shirt,  with  the  hair  both  inside  and 
outside.  Sometimes  a  blanket  is  used  instead  of  a  robe. 

The  dress  of  the  women  in  general  appearance  is  the  same 
as  the  men.  In  the  men  the  leggins  are  cut  to  fit  very  tight, 
and  with  a  flap  on  the  outside  of  each  leg.  In  the  women 
they  fit  closely,  but  in  place  of  the  flap  have  a  row  of  small 
brass  buttons,  silver  ornaments,  or  bead-work.  The  men  wear 
their  leggins  high  up  above  the  knee,  supported  by  a  strap  fas 
tened  to  the  waist-belt,  used  with  the  breech-clout.  The  women 
fasten  their  leggins  below  the  knee,  and  turned  over  at  the  top. 
The  Kiowa  women  wear  an  ornamented  flap,  attached  to  the 
top  and  rear  part  of  the  leggins,  which  trails  at  the  heels.  The 
leggins  in  both  cases  are  made  of  buckskin.  The  men  fre 
quently  wear  leggins  of  strouding.  The  moccasins  are  made 
with  buckskin  feet  and  raw-hide  soles.  Instead  of  a  breech- 
clout  the  women  wear  a  skirt  of  buckskin,  calico,  or  strouding, 
extending  from  the  waist  to  the  top  of  the  leggins,  and  sup 
ported  by  a  belt.  Mothers  wear  their  buffalo  robes  very  full 
at  the  back,  above  the  belt,  thus  giving  a  comfortable  and  con 
venient  place  in  which  to  carry  the  papoose.  The  children 
dress  like  adults,  according  to  sex. 

Although  this  constitutes  the  only  covering  used  as  a  protec 
tion  for  the  body  during  all  seasons,  it  is  the  least  portion  of 
the  wardrobe  complete.  The  plains  Indians,  inheriting  the 
peculiarity  of  their  race,  exhibit  an  excessive  fondness  for  gaudy 
colors  and  glittering  ornaments.  This  love  of  extravagant  dress 
is  probably  a  ruling  passion.  The  use  of  paint  is  the  most 
common  practice  in  vogue,  for  the  adornment  of  the  face  and 
body.  Although  there  are  no  particular  devices  required  for 
certain  occasions  of  public  or  private  ceremony,  the  colors  vary 
as  the  warrior  desires  to  appear  brilliant  or  hideous.  The  ordi- 


198  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

nary  use  of  vermillion,  artistically  applied  to  the  cheeks  and 
forehead,  and  polished,  so  that  the  color  fairly  sparkles  in  the 
sunlight,  is  the  common,  every-day  toilet  of  warrior  and  squaw. 
In  the  war  or  scalp-dances,  streaks  of  ochre,  charcoal,  and 
Indian  blue,  painted  across  the  face  from  the  forehead  to  the 
chin,  upon  a  ground  of  vermillion  are  added,  giving  a  pecu 
liarly  savage  appearance.  Frequently  upon  the  chest  are 
painted  figures  of  ferocious  animals.  Tattooing  is  also  common, 
both  with  the  men  and  women. 

The  decorations  used  consist  of  shells  and  ear-rings,  made  of 
brass  wire.  Frequently  five  or  six  of  these  are  worn  in  a  single 
ear,  and  from  which  brass  chains,  and  other  ornaments,  are  sus 
pended.  Wampum  necklaces,  silver  armlets,  six  or  eight  brass 
wire  bracelets  on  each  arm,  silver  ornaments,  with  crescents 
dangling  from  an  ingeniously  contrived  covering  for  the  breast, 
made  of  Iroquois  shells,  hair  pipe,  wampum,  and  beads,  the 
whole  suspended  from  the  neck,  are  also  popular.  The  most 
elaborate  ornaments  consist  of  a  train,  three,  four,  and  five  feet 
in  length,  composed  of  silver  plates  fastened  upon  a  strip  of 
raw-hide  and  attached  to  the  scalp-lock,  the  plates  diminishing 
in  size  from  three  inches  to  one  inch  in  diameter,  and  frequently 
very  picturesque  head-dresses  of  eagle  feathers,  and  leggins, 
often  beautifully  adorned  with  beads.  The  women  wear  belts 
of  silver  plates,  suspended  from  which  are  an  awl-case  and  paint- 
pouch  worked  in  beads,  brass  wire  bracelets,  and  immense  silver 
finger-rings.  The  women  wear  no  head  trappings,  nor  ear 
rings.  Nose  ornaments  are  now  seldom  used  in  either  sex. 

The  nomadic  life  led  by  the  plains  tribes,  and  the  scarcity 
of  subsistence,  which  frequently  occurs  when  the  hunter  fails 
to  secure  game,  exerts  a  remarkable  influence  in  the  mode  of 
living.  Their  abodes,  though  called  villages,  are  strictly  nothing 
more  than  camps,  easily  set  up  and  readily  moved,  as  the  emer 
gencies  of  scarcity  of  subsistence,  war,  or  superstition  may  dic 
tate.  Owing  to  the  precarious  character  of  their  daily  supply 
of  food,  in  time  of  peace  the  movements  of  the  buffalo  princi 
pally  regulate  the  location  of  the  Indian  camps.  For  this  reason 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  199 

it  is  also  impossible  for  large  numbers  to  congregate  in  the  same 
vicinity.  The  band  is  the  unit  of  organization,  and  the  har 
mony  which  exists  between  those  of  a  common  ancestry,  is 
merely  the  natural  and  instinctive  friendship  of  kindred  towards 
each  other. 

The  division  into  bands  is  a  matter,  personal  with  its  mem 
bers,  but  having  once  become  attached  to  one  band,  permission 
is  necessary  before  the  person  can  transfer  permanently  to 
another.  The  members  of  each  are  generally  relatives,  de 
scended  from  the  same  father  to  the  fifth  degree.  Intermar 
riages  with  and  from  other  bands  infuses  sufficient  foreign  blood 
to  keep  up  the  stock.  Cousins  call  each  other  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  aunts  are  called  mothers.  The  ruler  of  the  band  is 
the  chief,  though  the  real  power  is  vested  in  the  council,  com 
posed  of  the  old  men,  and  the  young  men  on  questions  involv 
ing  war.  In  civil  matters  the  civil- chief,  who  is  generally  an 
old  man,  presides.  In  subjects  of  war,  the  war-chief,  who  is 
the  principal  leader  of  all  expeditions,  takes  the  seat  of  authority 
with  the  civil  chief. 

The  office  of  chief  is  elective,  when  awarded  in  due  form.  It 
frequently  occurs,  however,  that  an  informal  recognition  of  the 
qualifications  of  a  rival  in  wisdom  or  prowess,  is  equivalent  to 
a  suspension  entirely  of  the  functions  of  the  legitimate  chief. 
Although  the  object  is  the  elevation  of  one  specially  wise,  in 
the  case  of  the  civil  chief,  who  is  the  first  in  rank,  the  warrior, 
with  the  most  relatives,  has  an  advantage.  The  war-chief  is 
frequently  changed.  The  men  of  the  band  are  divided  into  old 
men  to  stay  at  home  and  sit  with  the  squaws,  and  young  men 
to  go  to  war  and  to  hunt  the  buffalo. 

The  government  of  the  band  is  strictly  a  matter  of  cus. 
torn,  regulated  by  superstition.  In  the  absence  of  a  precedent 
the  council  act  as  judge  and  jury.  The  chief  has  merely  an 
advisory  right.  The  enforcement  of  the  penalty  is  left  to  the 
sufferer,  who,  in  addition  to  accomplishing  the  savage  idea  of 
justice,  also  gets  his  personal  revenge.  Murder  is  punished  by 
the  relative  or  friend  of  the  victim,  killing  the  murderer,  ID 


200  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

hunting  the  buffalo,  if  one  leaves  the  party  without  authority 
any  one  is  at  liberty  to  shoot  the  pony  of  the  insubordinate. 
Most  crimes  have  their  price  in  ponies,  and  this  convenient  and 
peaceable  method  is  resorted  to  in  a  majority  of  cases,  in  order 
to  propitiate  the  injured  party.  Considering  that  the  authority 
of  the  chief  is  recognized  or  not,  as  most  agreeable,  the  different 
members  of  an  Indian  community  get  along  with  wonderful 
harmony.  Personal  quarrels  are  exceedingly  rare.  The  In 
dians  certainly  display  the  most  perfect  contentment  in  their 
low  condition,  and  it  is  a  problem,  yet  to  be  solved,  whether 
civilization  will  not  supplant  their  present  contentment  for  a  life 
of  squalid  poverty,  intoxication,  immorality,  disease,  and  inev 
itable  extermination. 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  20 


CHAPTER  XXVITI. 

THE  INDIAN  VILLAGE — ON  THE  MOVE— A  STAMPEDE — THE  WIGWAM — SUPERSTI 
TIONS — COOKING — FOOD — DOMESTIC  UTENSILS. 

N  the  selection  of  tlie  site  of  his  villages,  the  Indian 
consults  the  elements  above  and  the  conveniences  afford 
ed  by  surrounding  nature.  The  lodges  or  dwellings 
of  the  wandering  tribes,  will  almost  invariably  be  found 
located  in  a  sequestered  valley,  sheltered  from  the  blasts 
of  the  storm  and  hidden  as  much  as  possible  from  view.  The 
villages  are  located  also  with  regard  to  their  defense  in  event 
of  attack,  and  to  afford  the  conveniences  of  water,  wood,  and 
pasture. 

The  unsettled  habits  of  the  plains  tribes,  from  various  causes, 
renders  it  necessary  that  the  village  should  be  easily  transported 
from  one  point  to  another  An  Indian  village  on  the  move  is  a 
novel  sight.  Everything  is  carried  on  ponies.  The  lodge  skin 
is  folded  and  lashed  upon  the  animals  back,  while  the  lodge 
poles  having  holes  in  one  end  for  the  purpose,  are  strung  on  a 
strip  of  raw  hide  and  fastened  on  either  side,  while  the  other 
ends  trail  on  the  ground.  Across  these  poles,  immediately 
behind  the  pony,  frequently  a  light  wicker-basket  is  constructed 
and  used  for  carrying  the  sick,  decrepit  dogs  and  papooses,  or 
anything  else  as  occasion  may  require.  The  lodge-poles  being 
light  and  springy,  and  about  fifteen  feet  in  length,  transporta 
tion  in  this  shape  is  quiet  convenient.  The  utensils  and  all 
things  connected  with  the  domestic  uses  of  the  village  are 
strapped  on  other  ponies,  which  the  women  frequently  also  ride. 
Sometimes,  however,  they  have  separate  animals,  and  assisted 
by  the  younger  boys,  drive  the  herds  and  pack-ponies,  or  else 


202  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

on  foot  lead  them.  There  is  no  order  observed  in  moving  ex 
cept  the  lodge  and  effects  of  the  first  "  soldiers  "  takes  the  lead, 
after  that  the  rest  fall  in  promiscuously  and  as  the  result  of  con 
stant  training  follow  their  leaders. 

The  warriors  always  ride  in  advance  or  on  the  flanks  to  keep 
a  vigilant  lookout  and  to  give  timely  notice  of  the  approach  of 
an  enemy.  At  no  time  are  the  Indians  so  powerless  to  repel 
an  attack  as  while  moving  their  villages.  At  the  first  alarm 
the  women  desert  their  posts,  and  leaving  the  herds  arid  effects 
of  the  village  to  look  out  for  themselves,  take  to  flight.  In 
event  of  a  stampede,  a  part  of  the  warriors  surround  the  mov 
ing  village,  and  beat  or  slay  any  squaw  who  attempts  to  leave. 
Some  one  at  the  head  of  the  drove  starts  off  at  a  gallop,  to 
direct  the  movements  of  the  flight.  The  rest  of  the  warriors 
take  up  a  position  confronting  the  enemy,  and  resort  to  every 
artifice,  such  as  burning  the  dry  grass  and  feints.  Meanwhile 
the  village  is  getting  out  of  the  way  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
A  warrior  is  never  more  determined  in  his  ferocity  and  courage 
than  in  defense  of  his  village. 

The  fugitive  village  while  thus  in  movement,  is,  naturally,  a 
scene  of  confusion  and  uproar.  Shouting  and  shrieking  en 
gage  the  women,  while  the  papooses  take  the  contagion,  and  in 
divers  key-notes  give  vent  to  their  alarm  in  piteous  cries,  dogs 
howl,  warriors  whoop,  and  the  whole  mass  thunders  along  to 
the  tread  of  ponies,  raising  clouds  of  dust,  dropping  utensils, 
lodge  skins,  buffalo  robes,  everything  and  anything  as  the  flight 
grows  in  velocity.  The  whole  movement  is  a  general  and  dis 
orderly  stampede,  which  keeps  up  night  and  day,  occasionally 
taking  fresh  ponies  from  the  d.iven  herd,  until  a  courier  from 
the  fighting  party  announces  that  the  enemy  has  gone. 

An  Indian  village  will  move  about  fifteen  miles  a  day  as  a 
regular  journey,  but  twice  that  distance  can  be  traveled  over  in 
case  of  flight  or  emergency. 

When  there  is  no  prospect  of  alarm,  a  small  party  of  warriors 
with  the  chief?  ride  ahead  and  select  the  site  of  the  village. 
As  soon  as  this  is  done,  they  plant  their  spears  ou  the  ground 


_.t    THE   BORDERS.  203 

chosen.  They  then  ride  to  the  highest  eminence  near  by, 
where  they  sit  and  smoke,  and  keep  a  vigilant  lookout  while 
the  band  is  coming  up  and  the  squaws  are  putting  up  the  lodges. 

An  Indian  wigwam,  lodge  or  tepee,  as  it  is  sometimes  called, 
has  a  neatness  of  finish  and  an  air  of  elegance  about  it,  which  is 
not  generally  presented  by  the  abodes  of  wild  men.  Its  structure 
consisis  of  buffalo  hides,  with  the  hair  shaved  off,  tanned  on 
both  sides,  by  a  peculiar  process,  and  whitened.  The  number 
of  skins  thus  prepared,  necessary  to  a  lodge  of  liberal  dimen 
sions,  is  from  fifteen  to  twenty.  They  are  neatly  fitted,  and 
sewed  together  strongly  with  sinews,  and  are  water-tight. 
The  frame  of  the  lodge  consists  of  a  number  of  long  thin  poles, 
usually  cedar,  sometimes  fifteen  to  eighteen  feet  in  length. 
These  poles  are  set  with  the  heavier  ends  on  the  ground,  on 
the  periphery  of  a  circle,  while  the  upper  ends  are  brought 
together  and  held  by  a  raw  hide  strap.  Over  this  frame,  the 
skin  is  drawn  and  the  two  ends  meeting,  are  held  together  by 
thongs.  The  appearance  of  the  lodge  when  completed  is  that 
of  a  cone, with  an  ap^vire  at  the  top  where  the  poles  unite  and 
cross,  allowing  a  space  fix*  ^ntilation  and  the  egress  of  smoke. 
The  entrance  which  must  always  face  the  rising  sun  is  at  the 
lower  end,  where  the  skin  meets. 

The  origin  of  the  peculiar  structure  in  which  the  plains 
Indian  dwells,  and  which  is  now  universal  in  that  section,  ia 
said  to  be  Comanche.  Upon  what  grounds  cannot  now  be 
known,  though  Coronada  in  his  expedition  from  Old  Mexico  in 
1540,  alludes  to  the  people  living  in  tents  made  of  the  skin  of 
the  Bison.  This  referred  to  the  tribes  living  about  the  Red 
river.  The  Comanches  at  that  time  according  to  their  traditions 
liven  beyond  the  Brazos  south,  and  within  the  original  limits 
of  Old  Mexico.  Without  specially  crediting  any  tribe  with  the 
invention  of  the  Bison  skin  lodge,  one  fact  must  be  admitted 
that  it  is  of  very  ancient  origin. 

The  number  of  occupants  of  a  lodge  varies.  Sometimes  it 
shelters  as  many  as  ten  and  tv/elve  human  beings  and  half  a 
dozen  dogs.  According  to  the  official  returns  of  the  Indian 


204  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

department,  the  average  is  seven  person.  The  number  of  fight 
ing  men,  estimated,  is  two  to  a  lodge.  Each  lodge  has  also 
attached  to  it  a  small  shelter  which  stands  at  a  distance  of  eight 
or  ten  feet,  and  is  generally  occupied  at  night  by  the  head  of 
the  family. 

The  order  of  arranging  a  village  is  to  place  the  lodge  of  the 
chief  in  the  centre  and  those  of  his  warriors  around  him  accord 
ing  to  rank. 

The  selection  or  the  abandonment  of  the  site  of  a  village  is 
subject  to  numerous  contingencies  of  " good  and  bad  medicine." 
Upon  this  point  the  savages  are  excessively  superstitious.  On 
the  slightest  grounds  they  will  change  their  abode.  If  any 
member  of  the  tribe  dies,  the  village  is  moved,  because  the 
ghost  of  the  departed  will  haunt  the  spot  and  be  of  ill  omen 
in  the  future.  A  village  attacked  by  an  enemy  is  looked  upon 
as  very  "bad  medicine,"  and  that  locality  becomes  cursed 
ground. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  before  moving  the  village,  a 
council  is  held.  The  civil-chief  presides.  After  considerable 
talk  it  is  left  to  the  warriors  to  decide.  If  favorable  to  removal 
the  women  take  down  the  lodges  and  pack  the  ponies.  At  the 
word  of  the  chief  the  squaw  of  the  head  warrior  leads  off,  the 
rest  of  the  motley  crowd  follow. 

In  times  of  scarcity,  to  prevent  the  band  from  breaking  up, 
the  most  trusty  warriors  surround  the  village  to  keep  its  mem 
bers  together,  while  the  hunting-parties  are  out  securing  game. 
The  immense  droves  of  dogs,  usually  found  in  every  band, 
form  a  sort  of  reserve  commissariat.  Almost  every  year,  during 
an  unusually  long  period  of  snow  or  rain,  when  it  is  impossible 
for  the  hunters  to  be  out,  it  happens  that  this  reserve  fund  of 
subsistance  is  quite  convenient. 

In  strolling  through  a  village,  it  will  be  observed  that  every 
warrior,  not  on  the  war-path,  has  a  tripod  erected  in  the  rear 
of  his  lodge,  and  upon  this  hangs  his  shield,  with  a  covering  of 
skin  thrown  over  it  to  keep  off  the  weather.  In  the  morning 
this  ?kin  is  removed  and  the  face  of  the  shield  is  exposed  to 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  205 

the  rising  sun.  The  superstition  in  regard  to  the  shield,  as 
mentioned  by  the  Indians  themselves,  is,  that  by  placing  it 
outside  it  drives  away  intruding  evil  spirits,  and  acts  as  a 
safeguard  against  their  enemies. 

Everything  about  an  Indian  village  is  characteristic  of  a  life 
of  unrestrained  freedom,  irresponsibility,  and  indolence.  Aa 
the  disposition  moves  them,  the  warriors  mount  their  fleet  ponies 
and  gallop  over  the  neighboring  plain.  Should  a  buffalo  appear 
in  sight,  a  chase  may  ensue,  more  for  the  excitement  and  sport 
than  to  secure  the  game.  The  regular  hunt,  as  the  taking  of 
the  war-path,  is  a  matter  of  great  preliminary  ceremony.  Sani 
tary  regulations  have  no  part  in  the  domestic  arrangements  of 
either  the  lodge  or  the  village.  Filth  seems  to  be  the  normal 
condition  of  the  savage. 

Two  things  in  life  actuate  the  Indian  to  unusual  exertion. 
The  struggle  against  starvation  and  his  mortal  hatred  of  his 
enemies.  The  improvidence  of  the  race  is  so  remarkable,  that 
in  the  face  of  inevitable  suffering,  they  gorge  and  waste  without 
a  solitary  thought  of  the  future.  Food  in  an  Indian  village  is 
generally  in  common,  particularly  as  far  as  the  poor  and  sick 
are  concerned.  In  seasons  of  the  regular  hunts,  the  whole  vil 
lage  will  move  to  the  vicinity  of  the  hunting-grounds  and  there 
locate,  conveniently  accessible  to  the  hunter  and  his  game.  In 
times  of  scarcity  of  game,  small  parties  set  out  in  all  directions. 
Upon  this  slender  thread  often  hangs  the  lives  of  whole  villages. 
Should  these  parties  fail  in  their  desperate  mission,  suffering 
is  certain  to  ensue,  and  the  dog  reserve  is  drawn  upon. 

Hunting-parties  frequently  leave  the  village  more  in  the 
nature  of  amusement  than  actual  necessity.  The  main  object 
of  these  is  to  secure  fine  buffalo  hides  for  tanning.  These  par 
ties  are  composed  of  young  and  gallant  warriors.  An  equal 
number  of  young  squaws  attend  them  to  secure  the  skins  of  the 
buffalo  killed,  and  to  see  to  their  transportation.  On  these 
occasions  at  night,  the  party  construct  shelters  made  of  reeds. 
This  frame-work  is  covered  with  blankets  or  robes.  These 
parties  are  frequently  gone  for  a  week  or  two  at  a  time,  and 


206  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

% 

generally  return  well  laden  with  meat  and  hides.  In  fact,  in 
every  Indian  hunting-party  is  a  certain  number  of  squaws  to 
take  care  of  the  game,  that  being  too  menial  a  duty  for  warriors 
accustomed  to  handling  deadly  weapons. 

The  culinary  art  is  not  any  farther  advanced  than  with  the 
kindred  of  the  race  elsewhere.  In  some  particulars  their  prepa 
ration  of  certain  food  is  not  at  all  objectionable.  Their  best 
attainment  in  this  branch  is  in  cooking  the  meat  of  the  buffalo. 
This  is  done  by  cutting  the  meat  in  strips  and  running  a  green 
stick  through  each  strip  lengthwise.  The  one  end  is  then  in 
serted  securely  in  the  ground  and  arranged  by  inclining  to  wards 
the  fire,  so  as  to  bring  the  raw  flesh  fairly  in  the  heat  and  free 
from  the  smoke.  It  is  a  great  art,  properly,  to  build  a  fire  for 
this  purpose.  Strips  of  buffalo  rump,  cooked  in  this  manner, 
are  delicious,  and  at  our  own  mess  we  not  unfrequently  imitated 
this  primitive,  but  certainly  excellent,  mode  of  preparing  the 
meat  which  we  had  ourselves  taken  during  the  day's  march. 

During  the  great  hunts  in  storing  up  the  winter  supply,  the 
meat  of  the  buffalo  is  jerked  and  laid  away  in  raw-hide  packing 
cases,  in  which  it  is  free  from  an  extra  supply  of  dirt,  and  can 
be  conveniently  transported.  In  summer  the  buffalo  meat  is 
dried  by  hanging  it  in  the  sun.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that 
meat  thus  exposed  to  the  air  will  keep  days  without  becoming 
tainted.  The  wonderful  purity  of  the  atmosphere  of  the  plains 
is  in  no  instance  better  illustrated.  This  simple  means  is  also 
resorted  to  by  the  troops  on  outpost  duty. 

A  dainty  dish  among  the  savages,  and  which  is  decidedly 
agreeable,  even  to  an  enlightened  taste,  is  the  marrow-bones 
of  the  buffalo.  After  having  taken  off  all  the  meat,  the  bones 
are  laid  near  the  fire  until  sufficiently  well  done.  They  are 
then  broken,  and  from  the  interior  oozes  a  rich  cream-colored 
marrow. 

A  less  inviting  repast  are  the  entrails  of 'the  buffalo.  These 
constitute  a  favorite  dish,  eaten  either  raw  or  roasted  over  the 
fire.  The  most  revolting  of  their  articles  of  diet  is  the  foetus 
of  the  buffalo.  This  embryo,  and  of  other  animals  the  same, 


ON   TH£3  BORDERS.  207 

when  boiled,  forms  a  sort  of  glutinous  soup,  which  an  Indian 
family  will  consume  with  the  utmost  eagerness.  Indeed,  there 
are  few  parts  of  the  buffalo  for  which  the  savages  have  not  found 
some  use.  The  buffalo  on  the  plains,  in  the  animal  kingdom, 
bears  the  same  relation  to  the  red  man  in  his  domestic  concerns, 
that  the  cocoa-nut  tree,  in  the  vegetable  kingdom,  does  in  the 
same  sphere  of  uses  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  tropics.  His  hide 
tanned  as  robes,  affords  protection  against  the  weather.  The 
hide  shorn  of  its  hairy  covering  and  tanned,  constitutes  the 
covering  of  his  lodge.  In  the  shape  of  raw-hide,  it  is  used  for 
bridles,  quirks,  saddle  coverings,  and  for  an  endless  variety  of 
purposes.  The  brain  is  valuable  for  tanning,  and  the  flesh 
furnishes  food. 

Dogs  are  not  only  an  article  of  diet,  in  reserve,  but  on 
occasions  of  great  ceremony  are  always  done  up  in  the  most 
systematic  manner.  After  being  killed  the  carcass  is  held  over 
the  fire,  and  turned  and  twisted  about  until  all  the  hair  is  singed 
off.  An  economical,  labor-saving,  method  of  accomplishing  the 
removal  of  this  hirsute  growth.  His  cauineship  is  then  artisti 
cally  dressed,  and  impaled  up  an  a  stout  stick,  by  way  of  a 
skewer,  which  is  inserted  down  the  much-abused  animal's  throat. 
The  ends  of  the  skewer  are  then  supported  on  two  forked  sticks, 
which  brings  the  victim  of  the  savage  gourmands  immediately 
over  the  centre  of  the  fire.  Here  the  roasting  favorite  of  the 
lodge  spits  and  crackles,  followed  in  all  its  varying  stages  by 
the  eyes  of  a  troop  of  savages  sitting  around  in  anxious  expecta 
tion. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that,  notwithstanding  the  abundance 
of  other  large  game,  as  long  as  the  buffalo  is  to  be  had,  the 
buffalo-hunting  savages  will  touch  no  other  animal  food.  Veni 
son,  antelope,  elk,  or  bear,  is  never  used  except  in  times  of  great 
scarcity.  Nor  wild  turkey,  and  the  other  feathered  game,  do 
they  touch  under  ordinary  circumstances.  Every  sort  of  this 
class  of  game  met  with  on  the  plains,  distant  from  access  by  the 
white  man,  shows  this  to  be  true  by  their  want  of  fear.  In 
my  experience  this  fact  afforded  a  valuable  lesson  in  regard 


SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

to  the  relation  between  man  and  the  lower  animals — that  fear 
was  not  of  man,  as  a  superior  or  formidable  being,  but  be 
cause  of  his  aggressive  spirit — his  natural  impulse  to  destroy. 
While  crossing  the  basin  of  the  Canadian,  where  probably  no  one 
had  ever  visited,  save  the  savage,  a  short  distance  from  the  col 
umn,  we  ran  into  a  fine  large  flock  of  pinnated  grouse.  They 
stood  and  looked  at  us  with  curiosity,  but  not  alarmed  at  our 
presence,  and  even  resumed  feeding.  We  had  approached  so 
close  that  we  could  almost  reach  them  with  the  muzzles  of  our 
rifles.  Three  were  killed  before  they  took  flight.  It  was  very 
evident  that  the  birds,  in  the  first  instance,  had  no  more  fear  of 
us  than  of  the  animals  which  they  were  constantly  accustomed 
to  meet  in  their  morning  and  evening  feedings. 

Vegetable  food  is  little  used,  mainly  because  the  country 
affords  only  in  certain  places,  widely  separated,  that  variety  of 
diet.  There  is  a  white  root,  a  sort  of  potato,  and  also  a  yam, 
which  is  held  in  high  esteem.  Wild  pumpkins  and  beans  are 
sometimes  gathered  for  use.  The  pumpkins  are  cut  and  dried, 
and  prepared  by  baking  in  the  ashes,  or  boiling.  Wild  fruit 
and  berries,  where  found,  are  consumed  as  a  great  luxury.  It  is 
not  unusual  for  bands  living  near  a  large  growth  of  wild  cher 
ries  to  gather  the  fruit  at  the  proper  season.  They  preserve  it 
by  pounding  with  a  mixture  of  marrow-grease.  This  compo 
sition  is  put  up  in  cakes,  which,  when  thoroughly  dried,  are 
laid  away  for  future  consumption.  Pecan-nuts,  which  grow 
plentifully  along  some  of  the  streams,  are  also  used  as  food. 

Amid  all  the  pressure  of  scarcity  of  game,  and  absolute  starva 
tion  staring  them  in  the  face,  cannibalism  has  never  been  known, 
or  even  hinted  at,  in  any  of  the  five  wild  tribes.  The  Tonka- 
ways,  who  inhabited  the  country  many  years  ago,  and  a  few  of 
whose  descendants  are  still  living,  are  said,  with  some  corrob- 
oration,  to  have  been  in  the  habit  of  roasting  and  devouring 
their  prisoners,  and  in  time  of  suffering  the  weak  ones  of  their 
own  flesh  and  blood  had  to  give  up  to  afford  sustenance  for 
their  voracious  kinsfolk. 

Of  J*.ta  years  the  native  food  of  tne  savages  has  been  mate- 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  209 

rially  assisted  by  a  liberal  contribution  of  beef,  corn-meal,  flour, 
sugar,  a  little  coffee,  and  a  very  small  allowance  of  extras.  The 
corn-meal  very  frequently  finds  a  voracious  consumer  in  a  fa 
vorite  pony.  Five  days'  rations  of  each  of  the  other  articles 
are  generally  astonishingly  well  stowed  away  in  one. 

Not  always  possessed  of  the  convenience  of  "  white  man's 
fire,"  though  the  use  of  lucifers,  when  to  be  obtained,  is  one  of 
the  modern  innovations,  the  Indian  finds  a  ready  means  of  pro 
ducing  combustion  by  a  rag  soaked  in  a  solution  of  ashes,  (corn 
cob  it  is  said,)  and  ignited  by  means  of  flints,  rubbed  rapidly 
against  each  other,  a  flint  and  steel,  and  frequently  by  the 
simple  rubbing  of  two  sticks.  This,  however,  is  often  found  a 
a  difficult  and  tedious  process. 

The  culinary  utensils  of  a  wigwam,  it  may  be  imagined,  are 
exceedingly  primitive.  Skewers  of  green  sticks,  hot  stones,  a 
battered  iron  kettle,  captured  probably  in  a  raiding  expedition 
upon  the  frontier  settlements,  spoons  made  out  of  buffalo  horn, 
worked  into  shape  by  the  use  of  grease  and  heat,  calabash  cups 
and  bowls,  mud  vessels  of  various  kinds,  stone  mortars  and 
pestles,  corn-crackers,  sheath-knives,  which  also  answers  the 
purpose  of  scalping,  composes  the  whole  list.  Roasting  is  done 
by  embalming  the  meat  in  a  thick  coating  of  clay  mud. 


210  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

SOCIAL  AFFAIRS — MARRIAGE — MORALS — PARENTAL  AFFECTION — CHILDREN — 

NAMES — THE  COUNCIL — WAR — TACTICS — CAMPING — 

SIGNALING THE   WAR  PONY. 

N  social  matters,  the  Indian  is  controlled  entirely  by 
motives  of  convenience  or  expediency,  custom  or  super 
stition.  The  rule,  in  every  phase  of  intercourse,  pre 
serves  the  same  unvarying  adherence  to  old  forms- 
Marriage  has  no  responsibilty,  except  that  inspired  by 
terror  of  the  male.  The  wife  is  the  servant  of  the  husband. 
To  this  sphere  of  degradation  the  women  submit  without  com 
plaint.  In  return,  the  men,  apart  from  the  position  which 
custom  has  given  her,  show  towards  the  woman,  when  obedient, 
a  degree  of  kindness  and  toleration,  which  would  indicate  that 
their  savage  natures  were  capable  of  some  of  the  softer  qualities 
of  the  heart. 

The  young  women  are  no  exception  to  the  same  class  in 
civilized  life.  They  exert  an  influence  of  decided  weight  over 
the  young  men,  and,  through  them,  over  the  entire  village, 
The  young  warrior  dwells  with  pride  upon  the  smiles  of  the 
Indian  maiden.  In  hopes  of  winning  her  esteem,  he  seeks  the 
glories  of  the  war-path ;  and,  enriched  by  ponies  captured,  or 
returning  with  scalps  as  the  tokens  of  his  bravery,  he  expects 
to  advance  himself  in  the  favor  and  admiration  of  the  object 
of  his  savage  love. 

The  young  women  laud  heroism,  and  the  warrior  who  has 
taken  the  most  scalps,  captured  the  most  ponies,  and  has  the 
greatest  deeds  to  recount,  is  sure  to  win  the  heart  of  any  maiden 
of  the  village. 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  211 

The  time  of  marriage,  in  the  woman,  is  twelve  or  beyond. 
The  man  is  at  liberty  to  marry  as  soon  as  he  can  support  a 
wife.  The  usual  form  is  to  ask  the  mother  and  father,  or,  if 
they  are  not  living,  the  nearest  relative.  The  maiden,  generally, 
is  not  consulted  until  after  her  parents  consent.  If  matters  are 
satisfactory,  the  brother  of  the  young  warrior  makes  a  present 
to  the  brother  of  the  maiden,  if  she  have  a  brother,  or  to  the 
parents.  Generally  a  pony  is  given  to  the  person  thus  having 
the  disposition  of  the  maiden,  and,  when  the  arrangement  is 
perfected,  he  sends  back  a  pony  with  the  bride.  The  ceremony 
of  marriage  is  completed  by  transferring  the  bride  to  the  lodge 
of  the  bridegroom.  The  friends  of  the  family  throng  around 
the  lodge  with  presents,  and  the  affair  terminates  in  a  general 
feast.  The  assertion  that  the  savage  secures  his  squaw  by  pur 
chase,  probably  originates  in  this  exchange  of  presents,  at  least 
in  regard  to  the  southern  tribes.  Captive  squaws  are  only  to 
be  purchased. 

In  regard  to  morality,  among  themselves,  the  savages  exer 
cise,  in  many  cases,  the  utmost  accountability.  Woman,  having 
no  position  except  that  voluntarily  accorded  to  her,  is  often  the 
object  of  inflexible  severity.  Infidelity  in  her  marital  relations 
is  punishable  with  the  greatest  harshness.  The  usual  practice 
is  to  clip  off  the  end  of  the  offender's  nose,  and  drive  her  from 
the  lodge.  Instances  of  the  application  of  this  mode  of  treat 
ment  are  to  be  seen  in  almost  all  of  the  wild  tribes,  but  the 
cases  are  not  common.  Sometimes  an  ear  is  cut  off.  In  the 
man,  the  hair  is  shorn.  It  is  very  rare  that  human  life  is  sacri 
ficed  upon  such  grounds.  Kidnapping  another  warrior's  squaw 
is  an  offence  which  generally  results  in  the  death  of  the  offend 
ing  savage,  if  caught.  When  in  contact  with  the  whites,  such 
a  thing  as  morality  does  not  exist.  Polygamy  is  a  common 
practice.  In  times  of  child-birth,  it  is  the  custom,  in  some  of 
the  tribes,  to  drive  the  women  out  of  the  lodge  into  the  woods, 
or  upon  the  plain.  This  is  supposed  to  harden  the  offspring ; 
or,  rather,  only  the  hardy  ones  are  expected  to  survive  such 
harsh,  or  literally  savage,  treatment. 


212  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

With  all  his  ferocity,  the  Indian  exhibits  towards  the  children 
of  his  blood  a  wonderful  degree  of  attachment.  The  mutual 
exchange  of  parental  and  filial  affection,  is  probably  the  most 
redeeming  features  of  his  character.  This  trait  is  probably 
more  fully  developed  than  any  other,  unless  it  be  a  thirst  for 
the  blood  of  his  enemies. 

In  speaking  on  this  subject,  the  savages  compare  the  white 
man  to  the  buffalo.  An  old  Indian  once  remarked  to  the  writer, 
that  he  "  did  not  like  the  white  man's  way.  It  was  like  the 
buffalo.  When  the  calf  grew  up,  he  went  out  into  the  herd, 
and  forgot  his  father  and  mother.  White  children  went  away, 
and  were  gone  for  many  years,  and  forgot  their  parents,  like  the 
buffalo.  The  red  man  wept  when  he  had  no  parents,  or  when 
he  had  no  children  to  take  care  of  him  when  he  grew  old." 
Indian  parents,  I  have  found,  also,  make  a  strong  distinction  in 
the  treatment  of  their  offspring.  The  boys,  who  are  to  become 
braves,  are  never  punished,  whatever  may  be  their  offence.  It 
is  considered  beneath  the  pride  of  even  a  prospective  warrior  to 
subject  him  to  the  humiliation  of  bodily  indignity  for  miscon 
duct.  The  very  young  are  remarkably  tractable,  and  the  older 
boys,  imitating  the  qualities  of  the  warrior,  naturally  become 
as  serene  and  inflexible  in  their  general  behavior  as  old  men. 
/  In  regard  to  names,  the  savages  have  peculiar  notions.  Boys 
receive  their's,  generally,  in  consequence  of  some  amusing  action 
or  characteristic.  It  is  the  custom  to  apply  to  the  young  war 
rior,  during  his  first  participation  on  the  war-path,  a  name  sug 
gested  by  some  specialty  of  bravery  or  cunning  exhibited,  by 
which  he  will  always  thereafter  be  known.  For  instance,  if  he 
creeps  up  and  looks  over  a  hill,  and  there  watches  the  enemy, 
he  might  be  called  "  The  Wolf  that  Looks  Over  the  Hill." 
Sometimes  names  are  suggested  by  marked  physical  peculiarities, 
and,  more  frequently,  by  objects  in  nature,  particularly  moun 
tains  and  the  larger  animals,  such  as  "  Iron  Mountain,"  "  Big 
Buffalo-head,"  &c.  It  also  frequently  happens,  when  the  young 
warrior  has  grown  to  manhood,  and  has  shown  a  daring  spirit, 
while  the  old  brave,  his  father,  is  no  longer  strong  and  active 


ON    THE    BORDERS.  213 

enough  to  endure  the  fatigue  and  exposure  of  the  war-path,  the 
paternal  brave  gives  his  name  to  the  son,  to  perpetuate  it  and 
incite  an  imitation  of  his  example.  On  such  occasions  of  trans 
fer,  the  father  gives  a  feast,  and  gives  away  a  pony.  Little 
Raven,  the  first,  was  a  warrior  greatly  distinguished.  The 
father,  after  giving  his  own  name  and  the  memory  of  his  deeds 
to  his  son,  the  present  chief  of  that  cognomen,  took  the  name 
of  "  Mares  Lodge." 

The  women  are  named  in  recognition  of  their  personal  charma 
or  defects — such  as  "  Pretty  Face,"  "  Bright  Eye,"  "  Wall 
Eye,"  "  Big  Mouth,"  "  Marrow  Greese,"  &c. ;  and  very  rarely, 
and  only  in  commemoration  of  some  remarkable  act,  after  ani 
mals.  The  "  Young  Grass  that  Shoots  in  Spring,"  (Mon-e-se- 
tah),  was  the  name  of  the  niece  of  Black  Kettle,  the  chief  of  the 
Cheyennes.  This  poetical  form  is  often  adopted  in  the  families 
of  chiefs  and  braves  of  importance. 

The  council  of  old  men,  presided  over  by  the  head  civil- 
chief,  has  the  administration  of  everything  of  a  civil  character 
belonging  to  the  village.  On  the  question  of  war,  the  young 
men  are  invited  to  attend  and  sit  in  an  outer  circle,  and  the 
war-chief  sits  with  the  civil-chief.  The  young  men  take  no 
part  in  the  discussion,  but  have  a  voice  in  determining  action. 
It  frequently  happens  that  young  men  will  take  the  war-path 
without  the  permission  of  the  council,  but  this  is  an  act  of  indi 
vidual  responsibility. 

The  habits  of  life  of  the  Indian  are  such,  and  his  spirit  of 
that  restless  nature,  that  he  never  remains  quiet  where  there  is 
excitement  in  his  path.  Naturally,  in  matters  about  the  village, 
he  is  .indolent  and  utterly  worthless.  The  thrilling  scenes  of 
the  war-path  and  the  chase,  seem  to  alter  his  entire  nature. 
He  now  rises  to  a  wonderful  degree  of  energy  and  resolution, 
Blood  and  depredation  are  irresistible  incentives  to  the  most 
remarkable  exhibitions  of  fortitude  and  perseverance. 

An  Indian  never  makes  a  present  without  expecting  one  in 
return,  consequently  among  themselves  these  interchanges  of 
civility  do  not  frequently  occur.  It  would  be  unnecessary  to 


214  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

say,  in  his  tastes,  the  Indian  figures  in  the  lowest  sphere  of 
depravity.  His  life,  naturally,  creates  such  a  tendency.  His 
love  of  strong  drink  is  inordinate,  and  a  very  small  quantity 
will  arouse  the  most  diabolical  exhibitions  of  frenzied  and  un- 
trameled  passion.  He  seems,  under  such  influences,  to  be 
entirely  lost  to  reason,  and  dances  and  shouts  like  an  emissary 
of  the  infernal  regions.  Personal  encounters  are  almost  certain, 
and  blood  is  the  only  propitiatory  sacrifice  before  the  heated  brain 
of  the  drunken  savage. 

War  and  the  chase  are  the  two  leading  occupations  of  savage 
life.  The  war-path  is  considered  the  highest  use  to  which  the 
powers  of  manhood  can  be  applied.  It  is  the  way  to  eminence. 
The  number  of  reeking  scalps,  attesting  the  prowess  of  the 
warrior,  he  exposes  himself  to  every  bodily  danger,  in  order  to 
secure  these  fiendish  souvenir's  of  death  by  his  bloody  hand. 
Taking  the  war-path  is  always  the  occasion  of  great  prelimi 
nary  ceremony,  making  medicine,  or  the  formal  invocation  of 
the  powers  of  good,  always  takes  place  before  a  tomahawk  is 
raised.  This  important  ceremony  is  performed  by  the  "  medi 
cine  men,"  or  doctors  of  the  tribe.  Like  the  impostors  of  all 
other  heathen  people,  they  are  a  very  shrewd  set,  and  are  well 
posted  in  all  the  arts  of  delusion,  fraud,  and  deception,  A  large 
circular  space  is  marked  out  with  stones.  A  lodge  is  erected. 
In  this  lodge  the  "  medicine  men  "  take  themselves  apart  from 
the  impious  gaze  of  the  rest  of  the  tribe.  Here  they  consult 
the  oracles  and  go  through  a  series  of  boisterous  performances, 
chanting  a  monotonous  refrain.  If  this  consultation  of  the  great 
spirit  prove  favorable  to  success,  the  warriors,  awaiting  in  sus 
pense  outside,  armed,  equipped,  and  hideously  painted,  are  so 
informed.  The  war-dance  follows. 

War-parties  sometimes  consist  of  whole  tribes,  and  more  fre 
quently  of  adventurous  young  warriors  from  several  tribes,  wish 
ing  to  have  an  opportunity  to  murder  and  pillage,  and  bring 
home  scalps  and  ponies,  in  order  to  give  them  character  among 
their  fellow-warriors.  On  these  expeditions,  a  chief,  of  their 
own  selection,  is  chosen,  and  for  the  time  being  exercises  su- 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  215 

preme  control.  Mounted  on  his  pony  and  equipped  for  war, 
the  American  savage  is  the  type  of  martial  bearing.  His  dress 
is  simple.  Moccasins,  sometimes  elaborately  worked  with  beads, 
buck-skin  leggins,  a  breech-clout,  and  on  the  journey  a  buffalo 
robe  drawn  about  his  shoulders.  On  his  person  are  the  cus 
tomary  decorations.  His  beardless  face  is  painted  hideously, 
to  suit  the  infernal  and  bloody  mission  he  has  in  view.  On  his 
left  arm  he  carries  his  raw-hide  shield,  painted  and  ornamented 
with  feathers.  Over  his  shoulder  and  across  his  back  hangs 
his  quiver,  filled  with  arrows,  and  his  bow-case,  from  one  end 
of  which,  projecting,  may  be  seen  a  powerful  bow,  his  spear  he 
carries  suspended  vertically,  by  a  loop  drawn  up  over  the  arm 
and  resting  on  the  shoulder,  his  rifle  in  his  hand,  with  the  neces- 
Bary  accoutrements  about  his  body.  His  head  is  bare,  his 
raven  hair  streaming  over  his  shoulders.  Even  his  pony  is 
decorated  with  feathers  and  strips  of  red  flannel  plaited  in  his 
tail  and  mane. 

In  all  his  expeditions  the  savage  carries  little  or  no  supply  of 
food,  depending  upon  the  game  he  may  find  on  the  way.  In  a 
general  war  the  villages  are  established  at  some  secluded  spot, 
in  a  deep  canon,  or  on  the  banks  of  a  well  protected  stream.  The 
war-parties  then  issue  forth  from  this  retreat,  and  commit  their 
depredations  unembarrassed  by  their  families. 

In  their  military  enterprises  the  details  are  governed  by  the 
will  of  the  soldiers,  and  in  the  fight  every  one  seems  to  rely 
upon  his  own  exertions,  without  reference  to  his  comrades. 
From  this  fact  in  Indian  tactics  there  is  no  harmony  of  action, 
which  gives  organized  troops  a  decided  superiority.  On  the 
war-path  they  generally  ride  in  single  or  Indian  file.  The 
"medicine  arrow,"  in  possession  of  the  first  soldier,  always  goes 
ahead,  the  warriors  following  according  to  their  recognized 
merits  or  known  deeds.  While  the  main  party  is  pursuing  its 
course  videttes  are  thrown  out  in  all  directions,  scouring  the 
country  with  a  vigilant  eye.  In  camping  the  most  retired 
Bpots  are  selected,  fires  are  built  as  only  an  Indian  can  build 
them.  When  the  camp  is  asleep  one  Indian  always  remains  on 
watch  near  the  fire. 


216  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

The  most  remarkable  power  exhibited  by  the  plains  Indian 
is  their  wonderful  strength  of  vision.  Their  acuteness  of  hear 
ing  always  struck  me  with  astonishment,  but  their  faculty  of 
discerning  objects  at  long  distances  was  even  more  surprising. 
Whether  they  reveal  the  nature  of  remote  figures  by  their 
actual  outline,  or  by  their  peculiar  motion,  they  are  at  a  loss  to 
explain.  A  still  object,  darkening  the  horizon,  they  contrive 
to  make  out  as  readily  as  one  in  motion.  They  can  tell  the 
difference  between  a  buffalo,  an  Indian,  or  a  soldier,  when  to  an 
untrained  eye  they  look  the  same.  Our  Osage  guides,  at  the 
head  of  the  column  of  troops,  scanned  the  country  for  miles  in 
advance,  and  reported  every  figure  that  appeared,  when  our 
own  organs  of  sight  were  not  only  unable  to  see  anything,  but 
at  first  invariably  reflected  upon  Osage  veracity. 

In  their  movements,  in  addition  to  videttes,  stationed  upon 
almost  every  commanding  eminence,  the  savages  use  a  code  of 
signals,  which  enables  them  to  communicate  with  each  other  at 
long  distances.  The  waving  of  a  buffalo  robe,  or  a  quiver, 
communicates  certain  actions  of  the  enemy,  gives  the  alarm, 
directs  the  course  of  the  main  war-party  in  any  direction,  halts 
them,  or  signifies  in  what  manner  they  shall  move.  Smoke  by 
day  and  fires  by  night  are  more  intricate  and  tedious  methods 
resorted  to,  but  with  almost  equal  detail  and  success.  The 
color  of  the  smoke,  either  light  or  heavy,  its  volume,  the  diam 
eter  of  the  column,  from  a  thin  thread  to  a  broad  dense  black 
mass,  are  all  intelligible  to  the  warrior.  The  varying  brilliancy 
of  a  flame  can  also  be  interpreted. 

The  secret  of  these  signals  is  jealously  guarded  by  every  tribe, 
that  the  knowledge  of  their  meaning  may  riot  escape,  and  thus 
be  used  against  them  in  event  of  hostility.  Their  use  is  indis 
pensable  iii  a  country  the  configuration  of  which  opens  long 
ranges  of  vision,  and  in  their  absence  would  limit  the  sphere  of 
warlike  operations,  or  hunting-parties,  to  a  very  small  scope  of 
territory. 

In  the  style  of  tactics  employed,  it  will  be  seen,  the  savages 
have  eminently  adapted  themselves  mainly  to  the  open  country 
they  inhabit. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  217 

The  herd  is  always  divided  into  two  classes  of  animals,  war 
and  squaw-ponies,  the  latter  being  also  used  for  carrying  bur 
dens.  The  war-pony  is  selected  from  the  best  stock,  is  fearless, 
quick  in  his  movements,  and  of  great  strength  and  endurance. 
These  valuable  qualities  are  recognized  by  clipping  the  pony's 
ears,  or  otherwise  marking  him.  This  being  done  he  is  re 
lieved  from  all  other  labor  than  to  carry  the  warrior  upon  the 
war-path.  A  warrior  usually  has  several  of  these  selected  ani 
mals,  one  of  which,  even  in  time  of  peace,  is  always  lariated 
near  his  lodge,  ready  to  be  mounted  at  a  moment's  notice. 
These  war-ponies  are  really  fine  animals,  and  frequently  are 
very  fleet.  In  action  they  exhibit  remarkable  courage,  and 
manoeuvre  either  to  the  voice  or  gesture. 


218  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

A  WAR-PARTY — STRATEGY — PRISONERS — TORTURE — MUTILATION    OP   BODIES— 

VICTORY — THE   RETURN — REJOICING INTELLECTUAL    DEVELOPMENT 

OF  THE  SAVAGE — LANGUAGE — ORATORY — SIGN  LANGUAGE. 

OLLOWINGr  the  war-party  upon  a  hostile  expedition, 
we  find  each  warrior  not  only  frequently  casting  a 
quick,  uneasy  glance  along  the  horizon,  but  also  closely 
observing  almost  every  foot  of  the  ground  over  which 
he  treads.  The  track  of  a  pony — -the  foot-print  of  a 
moccasin — occasions  a  halt  and  a  minute  examination. 

In  moving  forward,  preserving  the  same  vigilance,  the  ap 
pearance  of  the  enemy  is  followed  by  wild  whoops  and  terrific 
gesticulations  at  each  other.  A  desultory  firing  begins ;  the 
warriors,  on  both  sides,  dash  about,  and  perform  many  remark 
able  feats  of  horsemanship.  In  the  excitement  of  the  contest, 
a  charge  is  sometimes  made  by  a  few  warriors  engaging,  proba 
bly,  in  single  combat.  The  contest  is  usually  brief.  In  a 
majority  of  cases,  one  or  the  other  gives  way  before  much  harm 
is  done.  .Occasionally  the  prestige  of  one  party  will  be  too 
much  for  the  moral  courage  of  the  other,  in  which  case  the 
weaker  breaks  and  runs  at  first  sight. 

A  favorite  mode  of  tactics  is  to  draw  the  enemy  into  an  am 
buscade.  A  small  party  in  advance  will  engage  and  fall  back, 
apparently  discomfited.  The  pursuing  party,  intent  upon 
overtaking  the  fugitives,  dash  unconsciously  onward,  until  they 
find  themselves  confronted  by  a  strong  force.  Almost  instantly 
a  cloud  of  whooping  and  yelling  savages  rise  on  all  sides.  The 
contest  now  becomes  desperate,  and  the  invested  party  must 
fight  its  way  out,  or  expect  to  meet  the  almost  inevitable  fate 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  219 

of  disaster.  In  all  cases,  it  may  fairly  be  said,  as  the  exceptions 
are  so  raifl,  prisoners  find  no  quarter,  Every  mode  of  torture, 
if  taken  «nve,  is  applied  to  them.  To  be  burnt  to  death,  or 
punctures  liberally  with  spears  and  arrows — a  part  usually  en 
acted  by  tne  squaws — is  the  most  ordinary  mode.  If  pressed, 
the  suffiirings  of  the  victims  are  mitigated  by  instant  death  with 
the  tomahawk  or  bullet.  The  scalp  is  the  trophy,  always 
necessary  to  victory.  Without  scalps,  the  wonderful  stories 
told  by  (he  savage  warrior  to  his  admiring  squaw  and  affrighted 
papooses,  upon  his  return  to  the  village,  are  regarded  with  in 
credulity.  The  scalp  is,  therefore,  absolutely  a  necessary  fea 
ture  of  a  successful  war-party,  by  way  of  a  voucher  for  the 
bravery  of  its  proprietor.  The  scalp  is  carefully  preserved, 
and  retained  for  a  certain  time,  when  it  is  deposited  in  the 
"  medicine  lodge," 

Tii«  mutilation  of  dead  bodies,  after  a  fight,  is  a  common 
practice,  and  to  put  an  arrow  or  a  bullet  into  the  lifeless  form 
of  t'ne  victim,  is  considered  "  good  medicine." 

Having  triumphed  over  their  enemies,  the  war-party  returns 
to  tlie  village.  Their  approach  is  generally  announced  by  a 
courier  sent  in  advance.  The  old  men,  women,  and  children, 
gather  to  witness  the  arrival.  As  the  warriors  get  near,  they 
begin  to  sing  and  recount  their  deeds,  and  discharge  volleys 
from  their  fire-arms.  Reaching  the  village,  they  break  up  and 
go  to  their  lodges.  The  scalps  are  immediately  suspended  on 
poles,  and  at  night  the  usual  practice  of  firing  vollies  of  bullets 
or  arrows  is  complied  with. 

The  return  of  the  war-party  is  followed  by  the  scalp-dance, 
in  all  its  fiendish  finery  and  discordant  noise.  The  families  of 
warriors  killed,  nightly  chant  a  requiem  for  the  dead.  The 
most  marvelous  stories,  supported  by  a  scalp  or  two,  are  now 
listened  to  with  interest  by  all  the  members  of  the  village. 
Each  tries  to  out  do  his  comrade,  in  an  effective  narration  of 
remarkable  performances,  until  even  the  credulous  squaw  is 
Blow  to  believe.  Boasting  is  a  characteristic  eminently  belong 
ing  to  the  red-man.  Even  a  defeated  war-party,  returning,  has 


220  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

its  own  story,  and  the  lucky  possession  of  a  selection  from  the 
pate  of  an  enemy  is  sufficient  ground  upon  which  to  make  a 
great  victory.  If  Indian  stories  were  to  be  believed,  a  defeat 
would  never  be  heard  of.  Even  the  warriors  lost  in  a  disastrous 
conflict  would  be  accounted  for,  and  immortalized  in  legend. 

The  natural  intellectual  force  of  the  Indian  has  evinced  itself 
on  so  many  occasions  during  the  several  centuries  of  contact 
with  the  whites,  that  the  question  can  hardly  be  considered 
worthy  of  controversy.  The  speeches  uttered  by  the  more 
brilliant -minds  of  the  race,  are  master-pieces  of  feeling  and  ora 
torical  effect.  The  American  Indian  is  by  nature  an  orator. 
The  wild  independence  of  his  spirit  is  conducive  to  that  lively 
flight  of  mental  vision,  which  resolves  itself  into  ideas  and  images, 
burning  with  the  warmth  of  eloquence. 

On  all  ceremonies  of  a  public  or  private  nature,  great  state 
and  formal  proceedings  is  observed.  The  chief,  presiding  in  the 
council,  the  head  men  and  braves  of  the  tribe,  each  speak  in 
turn  until  all,  having  a  desire,  have  expressed  their  views. 
This  form  of  procedure  is  eminently  adapted  to  the  develop 
ment  of  the  power  of  expression  and  persuasion,  for  in  every 
case  the  action  of  the  tribe  is  influenced  more  or  less  by  the 
effect  of  the  speeches  of  the  warriors. 

The  Indian,  away  from  his  family  and  his  native  hunting- 
grounds,  appears  as  a  dignified,  repulsive  being,  constantly  con 
templating  some  horrible  scheme  of  massacre.  There  are  times 
when  the  expression  of  his  face  and  his  rigidity  of  manner  are 
inflexible.  There  are  moments,  also,  when  he  relaxes.  With 
the  warriors  of  the  village  he  often  tells  his  stories,  jokes, 
laughs,  and  smokes,  with  as  light  a  heart  as  a  country  wag. 

The  languages  of  the  five  wild  tribes  are  entirely  different 
from  each  other,  though  in  some  there  is  a  resemblance  with 
the  dialects  of  a  few  of  the  northern  and  north-western  tribes. 
For  instance,  the  Arrapahoes  and  the  Gros  Ventrea  family  of 
Sioux  speak  about  the  same  language,  evidently  emanating 
from  the  same  parent  stock.  The  Black  Feet  also  speak  the 
same  language.  The  Comanches  and  Snake  Indians  can  con 


ON    THE   BORDERS.  221 

verse  with  each  other.  The  Comanche  is  also  very  much 
adulterated  with  Mexican-Spanish,  The  Kiowa  tongue  doea 
not  show  any  particular  affinity  with  any  of  the  other  languages, 
and  those  people  seem  to  have .  forgotton  whether  they  ever 
could  hold  verbal  intercourse  with  other  tribes.  The  Kiowa 
and  Sioux  speak  a  different  language,  or  perhaps  different  dia 
lects  of  the  same  language.  The  two  tribes,  in  early  years, 
were  close  neighbors. 

It  is  here  unnecessary  to  speak  of  the  dialects  of  the  five  wild 
tribes,  philologically.  Indeed,  such  an  undertaking  would 
prove  almost  a  hopeless  task.  Having  no  literature,  the  lan 
guage  of  the  red  man  is  subject  to  constant  change,  corruption, 
and  adulteration,  In  this  respect,  we  see  no  more  forcible 
example  than  in  the  dialects  of  the  southern  tribes,  that  for 
years  past  have  been  in  frequent  contact  with  the  Mexican. 
The  majority  of  sentences  appear  to  have  no  regular  form  of 
construction.  Words,  in  many  instances,  are  arbitrary  sounds. 
In  their  speeches,  however,  the  warriors  of  oratorical  power 
show  a  delicate  sensibility  of  figure  and  strong  force  of  expres 
sion.  They  speak  more  from  objects  in  nature  than  from  abso 
lute  metaphysical  forms  and  reasoning.  The  language  is 
mainly  gutteral.  Some  of  the  sounds,  however,  are  mellow 
and  smooth. 

The  infinite  variety  of  dialects  which  exist,  it  would  naturally 
be  supposed,  would  prevent  or  at  least  obstruct  intercourse. 
Appreciating  this  inconvenience,  and  frequently  thrown  together 
through  a  community  of  interest  and  friendship,  the  plains  tribes 
have,  by  long  practice,  instituted  a  language  of  signs  which 
enables  them  to  communicate  with  each  other  with  ease  and 
rapidity.  This  sign  language  is  the  most  remarkable  of  all  the 
peculiarities  of  these  strange  people.  It  would  seem  to  be  a 
development  of  their  system  of  signals  for  personal  intercourse. 
So  widely  diffused  are  these  signs,  that  a  Sioux,  from  the  remote 
banks  of  the  Yellowstone,  can  communicate  with  the  Comancho 
of  the  Pecos  and  the  lied. 

Each  tribe,  to  begin  with,  has  its  name  in  sign.    A  Comanche 


SHERIDAN'S   TROOPER?  * 

Indian,  for  instance,  marks  out  with  his  finger  ti»e  movements 
of  a  snake,  that  being  the  sign  of  his  people  on  »«*.count  of  the 
stealth  they  practice  towards  their  enemies.  A  Sioux  draws 
his  first  finger  across  his  throat,  meaning  that  h«  Belongs  to  the 
cut-throat  tribe,  a  civility  shown  to  his  dead  ^oemies.  The 
Cheyenne  draws  his  hand  across  his  arm,  as  if  cutting  it,  mean 
ing  "  to  scarify,"  a  common  practice  with  his  tribe.  The  Kiowa 
makes  a  peculiar  undulating  motion  of  the  hand,  meaning  the 
prarie  tribe,  and  the  Arrapahoe  rubs  his  first  finger  against  the 
side  of  his  nose,  meaning  the  cut-nose  tribe.  The  Apache, 
(Lipan),  designates  himself  by  a  downward  motion  of  the  hand, 
meaning  the  "poor"  band. 

A  journey  is  represented  by  a  sort  of  galloping  motion  of  the 
hand,  and  its  length  by  resting  the  side  of  the  head  in  the  palm 
of  the  right  hand,  repeating  that  motion  for  each  day,  that  is  so 
many  sleeps,  about  fifteen  miles  constituting  a  sleep  or  day's 
journey.  A  chief  indicates  the  fact  of  his  ran&  by  passing  his 
hand,  palm  downward,  over  his  head  in  a  curve  line  towards 
his  back.  Each  chief  has  a  high  opinion  of  the  altitude  of  his 
own  greatness,  and  enjoys  very  much  communicating  the  fact 
to  every  one  he  presumes  not  cognizant  of  *he  fact.  It  ia 
amusing  to  observe  the  display  of  egotism.  The  chief,  in  sig 
nifying  his  rank,  invariably  describes  a  curv«  so  tremendous 
that  he  raises  on  his  toes  in  the  effort.  By  i.hig  they  mean  to 
convey  that  they  are  very  big  chiefs,  and  cone  can  compare 
with  them. 

Two  Indians,  approaching  from  opposite  directions,  if  not  cer 
tain  as  to  each  other,  go  through  this  form  The  first  Indian 
raises  his  hand,  palm  front,  and  moves  it  backwards  and  for 
wards,  meaning  to  halt.  If  the  second  Indian  be  not  hostile, 
the  signal  will  be  obeyed.  The  right  hand  is  again  raised  as 
before,  and  moved  towards  the  right  and  left,  signifying  "  who 
are  you."  If  a  friend,  the  other  Indian  will  raise  both  hands 
and  grasp  them  as  in  shaking.  If  hostile*  r.he  second  Indian 
disregards  the  overtures  of  the  first. 


ON  THE  BORDERS.          £2? 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

INDIAN  HIEROGLYPHICS — TRADITIONS — FABLES — RELIGION — DEATH — BURIAL — 

MOURNING — FESTIVITIES — MUSIC — AMUSEMENTS — RACING — 

TRADIN  G IMPLEMENTS. 

'HOUGH  without  any  written  language,  I  found  among 
the  plains  tribes  a  rude  system  of  hieroglyphics,  by 
which  the  leading  events  in  their  history  were  recorded. 
In  the  village  of  Black  Kettle  quite  a  voluminous  ac 
count  of  the  warlike  performances  of  that  chieftain 
and  his  warriors  was  taken.  It  was  drawn  in  an  old  day 
book,  which  evidently  had  been  captured.  A  number  of  leaves 
were  missing,  which  previously  contained,  quite  likely,  the 
business  transactions  of  some  luckless  trader  of  the  plains  The 
drawings  were  designed  to  represent  a  war-party.  The  soldiers 
of  the  white  man  were  in  wagons,  drawn  by  mules.  The  col 
ored  troops  were  indeed  quite  artistically  colored,  evidently  with 
a  burnt  stick.  The  chiefs  were  represented  in  most  desperate 
encounters.  One  had  as  many  as  two  soldiers  impaled  on  the 
end  of  his  spear,  and  had  hewn  down  several  others  with  his 
battle-are.  The  chiefs  were  portrayed  with  immense  rows  of 
feathers  trailing  over  their  heads  and  down  their  backs.  They 
were  also  highly  illuminated  in  person  and  attire,  vermilion  and 
blue  predominating.  This  book  is  a  valuable  Indian  curiosity. 
The  writer  is  in  possession  of  a  fine  buffalo  robe  ornamented 
with  picture  painting  by  Satanta  and  Lone  Wolf,  chiefs  of  the 
Kiowas.  The  figures  represent  the  encounters  of  those  two 
worthies  with  the  Utes  and  Navajoe  tribes.  Under  the  circum 
stances  they  probably  considered  the  subject  of  their  biograph 
ical  sketches  had  better  turn  to  a  less  direct  subject  than  to 


224  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

killing  soldiers,  This  painting  cost  the  writer  a  pound  of  ver 
milion  alone.  The  elegantly  burnished  physiognomies  of  Sa- 
tauta  and  Lone  Wolf,  and  their  friends,  during  the  produc 
tion  of  this  work  of  genius,  suggested  that  the  eminent  artists  did 
not  forget  the  favorable  opportunity  of  a  lavish  application  of 
art  to  their  own  hides. 

All  the  tribes  have  their  own  traditions,  relating  to  their 
origin,  the  land  of  their  forefathers,  and  accounts  of  heroism 
displayed  at  different  times  in  war.  They  also  have  a  number 
of  fables,  in  which  there  is  a  marked  resemblance  to  our  own 
^Esop.  It  is  also  strange  that  the  word  "  aesop,"  in  Comanche, 
means  "  to  lie."  Our  own  fable  of  the  greedy  dog  with  the 
meat  crossing  the  stream  is  also  known  to  them,  with  the  ex 
ception  that  the  dog  in  their  case  is  a  wild-cat.  Whether  these 
fables  are  of  their  own  origin,  or  have  been  communicated  by 
other  tribes,  is  a  mystery. 

The  plains  Indians,  with  the  earliest  progenitors  of  their 
race,  recognize  the  existence  of  a  Great  Spirit.  They  also 
show  great  reverence  for  the  sun,  the  moon,  and  the  stars. 
Every  time  he  fills  his  pipe  the  savage  blows  the  first  smoke 
towards  the  sun  as  an  offering  to  the  Great  Spirit,  and  as  an . 
invocation  that  he  may  protect  him.  The  earth  also  comes  in 
for  a  share  of  devotion.  Any  remarkable  occurrence  in  nature 
is  a  subject  of  superstitious  awe.  An  eclipse  of  the  moon  is  an 
occasion  of  universal  uproar,  shouting,  and  jumping,  and  demon 
stration  in  the  direction  of  the  obscured  luminary,  to  drive  away 
the  evil  spirit  taking  away  its  light.  When  the  shadow  begins 
to  recede  fear  changes  into  joy,  and  a  general  jollification,  in  a 
savage  way,  terminates  the  suspense. 

Religious  superstition  also  teaches  him  that  the  earth  is  a  great 
plain,  and  that  there  is  a  jumping- off  place.  When  he  dies  he 
goes  west.  A  horse  is  strangled  over  the  grave  of  the  deceased 
that  he  may  mount  the  spirit  of  the  animal  and  the  quicker 
make  his  journey  to  the  land  of  the  happy  hunting-ground. 
His  weapons,  and  some  food,  are  buried  with  him,  to  serve  him 
on  the  journey,  which  u  long  or  short,  in  proportion  to  the 
good  favor  incurred  of  the  Good  Spirit  when  alive. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  225 

When  a  Comanche  dies  he  is  generally  buried  in  a  sitting 
posture  on  the  top  of  a  high  hill.  The  usual  practice,  however, 
with  the  plains  tribes  is  to  place  the  bodies  in  the  branches  of 
trees,  when  convenient,  to  prevent  them  from  falling  a  prey  to  the 
wolf.  Where  there  are  no  trees  a  high  scaffolding  is  built,  and 
the  body  is  placed  upon  that.  It  is  customary  with  some  of 
the  tribes  to  burn  the  bodies  of  "  medicine  men." 

An  Indian  burial  case,  found  by  Surgeon  Sternburg  during 
the  campaign,  consisted  of  a  cradle  6f  interlaced  branches  of 
white  willow,  with  a  bottom  of  buffalo  thongs,  woven  in  an 
open  manner.  The  cradle  was  wrapped  in  two  buffalo  robes  of 
large  size.  Within  these  was  an  aperture  eighteen  inches 
square,  about  the  middle  of  the  cradle.  Within  this  there  were 
other  robes,  held  together  by  colored  bands.  Five  robes  and 
five  blankets  were  used  in  this  species  of  embalming.  The 
immediate  covering  of  the  corpse  consisted  of  three  robes,  with 
hoods  very  richly  ornamented  with  bead- work,  and  spherical 
brass  bells.  The  remains  lay  upon  a  mat,  the  head  resting 
upon  a  pillow  of  rags,  in  which  were  a  bag  of  red  paint  and 
and  antelope-skin  straps.  A  beaver  cap,  ornamented,  was  on 
the  head,  and  about  the  neck  were  wampum  necklaces.  The 
body  was  elaborately  dressed  in  full  Indian  attire. 

Among  their  lower  classes  less  pomp  of  burial  is  practised. 
A  buffalo  robe,  or  a  blanket,  wrapped  around  the  body  suffices 
for  the  poor  and  humble. 

There  are  frequent  occasions  of  public  or  private  ceremony 
scrupulously  observed  by  every  tribe.  The  process  of  mourn 
ing  is  one  of  the  greatest  formality  and  noisy  grief.  At  the 
grave  of  a  warrior  his  own  and  a  committee  of  sympathizing 
squaws  will  gather  at  nightfall  and  chant  their  hymns  for  the 
dead.  The  mournful  sound,  which  they  only  acquire  by  prac 
tice,  borne  upon  the  solitude  of  the  night  air,  is  most  doleful. 
The  bereaved  squaw  cuts  off  her  hair  for  her  warrior,  and  until 
it  grows  she  i.s  obliged  to  keep  her  widowhood.  She  also  makes 
the  same  recognition  of  the  demise  of  a  grown  relative.  If  she 
loses  a  child,  the  mother  squaw  cuts  off  a  joint  of  a  finger 

15 


22Q  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

Were  her  offspring  as  numerous  as  among  some  other  nations, 
digits  would  soon  be  in  demand.  The  men  in  mourning  cut 
off  their  hair,  and  discard  all  paint  and  ornaments  for  a  certain 
period. 

Each  tribe  has  many  dances  exclusively  its  own.  Dances 
of  a  propitiatory  nature,  and  dances  of  thanksgiving,  are  com 
mon  to  all  the  plains  tribes.  The  great  "medicine  dance"  pre 
cedes  all  great  undertakings,  particularly  of  war.  The  drum 
ming  and  antics  of  the  "  medicine  men  "  disturb  the  last  hours 
of  the  sick  in  a  vain  and  ignorant  effort  to  exorcise  the  evil 
spirit  of  disease.  There  is  also  the  sick  deer  dance,  the  beaver 
dance,  the  buffalo  dance,  and  the  virgin  dance.  In  the  latter 
the  men  seat  themselves  in  a  circle.  Any  virgin  is  allowed  to 
enter  the  circle,  but  it  is  death  tothosewho  venture  within  and 
are  charged  as  unclean. 

The  musical  talent  displayed  on  these  occasions  consists  of  a 
sort  of  lugubrious  cadence,  shouted  in  unison.  There  are  a 
few  songs  which  are  generally  known,  One  that  the  writer 
heard  translated  reads,  "  The  moon  lives  a  little  while  and  then 
dies.  The  sun  never  dies." 

The  following  is  sung  by  a  little  girl,  the  tribe  seated  around. 
"  There  are  the  bones  of  our  fathers,  in  another  season  they 
are  white  with  the  winds,  hurry  up  and  do  all  you  can  because 
your  bones  will  soon  be  lying  there  too." 

Those  listening  sing  in  return  "  This  talk  is  so,  we  follow  the 
road  of  our  fathers." 

Although  the  Indian  is  considered  always  in  a  brown  study, 
hatching  mischief,  he  gives  thought  also  to  amusement.  This 
is  particularly  the  case  with  the  young  men.  Racing  is  natu 
rally  a  popular  sport.  Tribes  wager  against  tribes,  and  the 
greatest  excitement  prevails.  Buffalo  robes,  arrows  or  other 
articles  of  a  similar  nature,  are  freely  put  up.  The  fleetest 
animal  in  either  tribe  is  selected,  and  a  suitable  course  on  the 
plain  near  the  village  is  marked  out.  The  horses  are  brought 
upon  the  ground.  On  each  is  an  Indian  boy  of  about  twelve 
years  of  age,  perfectly  naked.  The  horses  are  without  saddle 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  227 

or  bridle.  At  the  given  signal,  the  horses  start.  It  is  a  wild 
sight.  The  horses  and  riders  bounding  along  with  the  wind, 
the  eager  warriors  of  the  rival  tribes  seated  upon  their  war- 
ponies,  and  in  full  costume,  lining  the  course  on  either  side. 
When  once  started,  the  race  becomes  a  promiscuous  affair. 
Warriors  will  try  the  mettle  of  each  other's  ponies.  Small 
groups  thus  dashing  in  all  directions,  perform  some  extraordi 
nary  feats  of  horsemanship.  The  race  usually  terminates  in  a 
kind  of  rude  steeple  chase,  in  which  the  whole  number  of  war 
riors  present  by  tribes  array  themselves  in  opposition.  Such  a 
spectacle  is  exceedingly  fine.  A  hundred  or  more  gaily  capari 
soned  and  inimitable  horsemen  generally  compose  this  general 
race.  Each  party  whoops  and  yells  terrifically,  some  firing 
their  pistols  in  the  air. 

The  other  amusements  of  the  Indian,  are  such  exercises  as 
jumping,  running,  and  wrestling,  all  calculated  to  give  strength 
to  the  body.  Gambling  is  a  great  vice,  and  all  games  of  chances 
are  eagerly  taken  up.  Arrows  generally  constitute  the  prize 
played  for,  but  sometimes  robes  and  even  ponies  are  put  up  and 
lost  or  won. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that,  notwithstanding  their  frequent  con 
tact  with  the  trader,  the  Indian  of  the  plains,  and  it  is  the 
same  with  the  majority  of  the  race  elsewhere,  have  no  concep 
tion  whatever  of  the  value  or  uses  of  money.  If  an  Indian 
sees  an  article  which  he  covets,  his  first  question  is  "you 
swap1?"  You  can  then  make  up  your  mind  that  he  will  pay 
an  exorbitant  price  in  robes,  ponies,  or  anything  else  he  may 
have.  Having  once  determined  to  have  a  thing,  he  is  not  back 
ward  about  exchanging  handsomely  for  it.  On  the  other  hand, 
he  is  equally  as  fixed  in  holding  on  to  a  thing  he  desires  for  his 
own  use.  The  most  extravagant  bid  will  not  move  him  at  such 
times.  Indian  wealth  consists  in  ponies.  In  the  accumulation 
of  this  species  of  riches,  he  will  assume  every  risk  and  encoun 
ter  every  danger  and  toil. 

In  all  transactions,  the  medium  of  exchange  is  ponies.  A 
fine  lodge,  or  wigwam,  is  valued  at  eight  to  twelve  ponies ;  a 


228  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

less  number  for  one  of  inferior  workmanship  and  finish.  From 
eight  to  fifty  arrows  are  worth  a  good  pony,  and  so  for  other 
necessary  or  useful  articles.  Arrows  are  also  used,  in  many 
cases,  in  smaller  transactions.  Wampum  is  often  met  with  as 
ornaments  in  necklaces,  but  is  never  used  in  exchange  as  a  reg 
ular  medium. 

In  dealings  with  the  trader,  the  Indian — the  squaw,  particu 
larly — is  susceptible  of  the  soothing  influence  of  sweet  things. 
Sugar  and  molasses  are  held  in  great  esteem.  A  squaw  having 
a  fine  robe,  worth  at  least  ten  dollars,  will  part  with  it  for  ten 
or  fifteen  cups  of  coarse  brown  sugar,  worth,  probably,  from 
two  to  three  dollars.  I  once  offered  to  the  daughter  of  an 
Arrapahoe  chief,  as  much  on  account  of  her  beauty,  perhaps, 
as  of  the  beautiful  specimen  of  her  handiwork,  two,  and  then 
three,  dollars  for  a  paint-pouch  which  she  had  made.  She 
refused,  but  subsequently  accepted  five  cups  of  brown  sugar, 
worth  about  seventy  cents. 

In  dealing  with  an  Indian,  it  is  certain  he  will  never  be  satis 
fied  with  the  bargain  agreed  upon,  so  that  it  is  always  a  measure 
of  prudence  and  foresight  to  strike  the  bargain  low,  and  then 
raise  on  a  fair  margin.  I  remember,  at  one  time,  a  very  fine 
and  powerful  bow  was  offered  me  by  a  squaw  for  a  red  blanket 
I  possessed.  A  warrior,  who  was  riding  with  her,  probably 
her  husband,  sang  out,  with  great  emphasis,  "  how  !"  I  replied, 
"  how."  "  You  swap  V  said  the  warrior,  taking  hold  of  the 
corner  of  the  blanket,  and  pointing  to  the  squaw.  I  looked 
inquiringly.  He  pulled  his  bow  out  of  the  case,  and,  handing 
it  over,  again  began  pulling  at  the  blanket.  As  I  was  anxious 
to  secure  a  good  bow,  I  made  the  exchange.  The  next  day 
the  warrior  and  his  squaw  appeared  in  front  of  my  tent.  After 
loitering  about  for  some  hours,  occasionally  poking  their  heads 
into  the  tent,  and  performing  certain  pantomimic  gestures,  all 
of  which  I  could  not  comprehend,  the  interpreter  explained  to 
me  that  the  squaw  said  she  had  given  me  a  bow  for  a  blanket, 
and  now  wanted  something  to  make  the  bargain  good.  I  at 
once  sweetened  her  temper  with  a  few  cups  of  sugar.  She  left 
delighted  with  my  liberality. 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  229 

Besides  eating  it  in  enormous  quantities,  or  sprinkling  it  in 
a  mild  decoction  distilled  from  a  few  stray  grains  of  coffee 
gathered  at  the  garrison,  sugar  is  also  used  as  a  preservative. 
By  a  peculiar  process  of  applying  it,  they  manage  to  keep 
buffalo-meat  for  a  long  time. 

In  every  band  there  are  those  who  are  skillful  workmen  in 
the  manufacture  of  implements  and  war-weapons.  These  are 
generally  old  men,  whose  days  of  war  are  over.  In  many  cases, 
also,  the  squaws  are  very  expert,  and  vie  with  the  men  in  the 
character  of  their  work. 

The  shield  is  made  of  a  piece  of  raw-hide,  very  thick,  taken 
from  the  shoulder  of  the  buffalo.  By  way  of  ornament,  after 
being  cut  in  a  circular  form,  the  surface  to  be  presented  to  the 
arrows  of  the  enemy  is  covered  with  buckskin,  which  has  gen 
erally,  in  the  centre,  a  rude  drawing  of  an  animal,  A  loop  on 
the  inside  serves  for  carrying  the  shield,  and  handling  it  as 
a  means  of  defence.  Bows  are  made  of  various  materials,  but 
principally  of  bois  d'arc  or  Osage  orange ;  hickory,  cedar,  and 
several  other  woods  are  used,  but  only  in  the  absence  of  the 
Osage  orange.  The  more  powerful  bows  are  reinforced  with 
sinews,  which  not  only  add  strength,  but  the  elasticity  and 
spring  are  greatly  increased.  Bows  made  of  elk-horn  are  curious 
and  often  met  with.  They  are  greatly  appreciated.  The  bow 
string  is  made  from  the  gut  of  the  wild-cat,  if  it  can  be  pro 
cured. 

In  the  making  of  arrows,  the  greatest  taste  is  displayed.  By 
certain  marks — either  a  groove  along  the  shaft  or  the  arrange 
ment  of  the  feathers — arrows  can  be  distinguished  from  each 
other  by  tribes.  The  arrows  are  principally  made  of  wild- 
cherry.  The  blade  is  made  of  flint,  or  a  piece  of  strap-iron, 
cut  in  the  proper  shape,  polished,  and  sharpened  on  a  whet 
stone,  and  fastened  to  the  shaft  by  one  end  being  inserted  in  a 
notch,  and  secured  by  a  sinew.  Crow  and  turkey  feathers  are 
chiefly  employed  for  ornament  and  to  direct  the  flight.  The 
eagle  feather  is  held  in  too  high  esteem  for  this  purpose — that 
bird  being  the  emblem  of  dignity.  Eagle  feathers  are  always 


230  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

used  in  the  war-bonnet.  The  war-club  has  now  almost  been 
abandoned.  The  pipes  are  made  of  red  stone,  with  stems  of 
ash,  or  some  hard  wood,  with  a  hole  burned  through. 

The  traveler  on  the  plains  often  meets  with  cairns  upon  the 
summit  of  hills — large  stones  arranged  in  peculiar  forms — and 
pits  of  singular  fashion.  Aside  from  these  and  the  great  med 
icine-lodge,  the  progenitors  of  the  wild  tribes  of  the  plains  have 
lived,  killed  the  buffalo,  scalped  their  fallen  foe,  and  set  out 
upon  the  spirit  of  a  horse  for  the  happy  hunting-ground,  with 
out  leaving  a  trace  of  their  existence.  No  curious  remains,  as 
encountered  in  the  early  seats  of  the  Creeks,  in  the  south,  or 
the  Delawares  and  the  Shawnees,  in  the  valleys  of  the  Scioto 
and  Muskingum,  are  to  be  found.  Like  the  Beduin  of  the 
desert,  upon  his  fleet  steed  the  American  savage  has  galloped 
over  the  plains,  from  the  Missouri  to  the  Rocky  mountains, 
without  fixed  haunts,  or  a  solitary  spot  which  he  might  claim 
as  particularly  his  own.  The  antiquarian  will  search  in  vain 
for  the  momuments  of  this  vanishing  race.  That  this  people 
ever  existed,  will,  in  a  few  brief  years,  be  known  only  from  the 
v  page  of  history  I 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  231 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

AN  EXPLORING  EXPEDITION  TO  THE  WITCHITA  MOUNTAINS. 

LTHOUGH  Fort  Cobb  occupied  a  central  position  in 
the  favorite  winter  resort  of  the  wild  tribes,  Sheridan 
had  determined  to  abandon  the  post  as  soon  as  a,  more 
convenient  one  could  be  found.  With  this  view  he 
sent  out  a  small  expedition  in  the  direction  of  the 
Witchita  mountains  to  make  an  exploration  of  that  wild  section. 
On  the  evening  of  December  27,  I  was  informed  of  the  pro 
posed  expedition  and  received  an  invitation  to  join  the  party 
to  leave  on  the  following  morning.  Although  the  temperature 
was  not  of  a  character  to  inspire  much  ardor  in  the  line  of  explo 
ration  and  adventure,  I  accepted  the  invitation  quite  cheerfully. 
The  packing  of  our  establishment  in  front  of  headquarters  cre 
ated  unusual  mirth  the  next  morning  as  a  preliminary  of  our 
departure.  Our  mule,  following  the  example  of  his  progenitors, 
particularly  in  the  male  line,  had  a  will  of  his  own,  and  on  this 
occasion  he  took  care  to  use  it.  Three  stalwart  troopers,  ac 
cordingly  undertook  to  manage  the  animal,  regardless  of  his 
views  to  the  contrary.  The  exercises  of  the  long-eared  and 
agile  quadruped  were  remarkable  and  ludicrous.  Human  inge 
nuity,  however,  triumphed.  A  blind  was  put  over  the  animal's 
eyes.  Unable  to  direct  his  efforts,  his  muleship  suddenly  be 
came  quite  tractable.  After  the  tent-fly  and  blankets  were 
carefully  adjusted,  the  load  was  finished  off  by  a  superstructure 
in  the  shape  of  a  champagne  basket  stocked  with  ham  and  hard 
tack.  By  means  of  straps  and  ropes  the  cargo  was  securely 
fastened.  The  mule  being  laden,  the  covering  over  his  eyes 
was  removed.  The  moment  the  animal  observed  the  transfer- 


232  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

mation  which  had  taken  place  during  the  temporary  obstruction 
of  vision,  he  promptly  renewed  his  physical  demonstrations  amid 
the  orchestral  rattle  of  pots  and  kettles  dangling  about  his  form, 
with  more  regard  to  convenience  than  beauty.  After  this  prefa 
tory  flourish,  the  animal  made  several  violent  dashes  in  advance, 
at  the  same  time  indulging  in  that  resolute  manoeuvre  known 
as  "  bucking."  But  the  cargo  was  immovable. 

It  was  nearly  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  we  parted 
with  the  Commanding  General  and  his  staff,  arid  a  few  friends 
of  the  seventh,  who  had  come  to  see  us  off.  Our  transportation 
was  put  in  charge  of  an  orderly,  who  firmly  held  one  end  of  a 
cable  while  the  mule  had  possession  of  the  other.  Our  depar 
ture  was  not  characterized  by  any  solemn  ceremonies,  but  had 
decidedly  the  cast  of  a  farce.  When  released  from  his  mooring, 
his  muleship  again  seized  the  opportunity  to  renew  his  perform 
ances,  which  was  ably  done  amid  the  laughter  and  shouts  of 
every  one.  The  mule  planted  himself  suddenly,  as  if  deter 
mined  not  to  proceed  an  inch  farther.  A  sentinel,  near  by, 
probed  him  with  the  point  of  his  sabre.  This  unexpected 
demonstration  had  a  wonderful  effect.  After  a  few  more  sud 
den  pauses  for  contemplation  of  himself  and  reflections  upon  the 
situation,  the  mule  finally  yielded  and  went  of  expeditiously 
down  the  bank  of  the  river,  the  trooper  after  him  at  a  full  gal 
lop  with  orders  to  keep  in  motion. 

Having  the  mule  off  our  hands  we  joined  the  rest  of  the  ex 
pedition  at  the  headquarters  of  General  Griersou.  Here  an 
escort  of  forty  cavalry  of  the  tenth,  commanded  by  Lieutenant 
Doyle,  were  drawn  up  in  line  waiting  orders  to  move.  Our 
party,  consisting  of  Generals  Grierson,  Ilazen,  and  Forsyth, 
Major  Woodward,  Captain  Clous,  and  the  writer,  set  out  with 
the  escort,  moving  down  the  north  bank  of  the  Washita.  On 
the  way  we  were  joined  by  McCusker,  the  interpreter,  and 
Essetoyeh,  our  Indian  guide,  and  his  squaw.  After  passing 
the  entire  length  of  the  Peneteghtka  and  Kiowa  camps,  which 
lay  in  the  valley,  we  crossed  the  Washita,  pursuing  the  course 
of  a  narrow  canon  which  led  to  the  "  divide."  The  day  was 


ON    THE    BORDERS.  233 

delightful.  The  sky  was  clear  and  the  air  bracing.  In  advance, 
a  distance  of  several  hundred  yards,  rode  Essetoyeh  upon  a 
sorrel  Indian  war-steed  of  remarkable  beauty,  and  celebrated 
for  his  speed. 

Our  guide  scanned  the  horizon  with  all  'the  vigilance  and 
suspicion  of  his  race,  and  frequently  dashed  to  some  neighbor 
ing  eminence  to  catch  a  more  extended  view  of  the  surrounding 
plain.  The  old  savage  sported  a  puritanical  felt,  such  as  the 
infantry  wear  in  the  army,  with  the  amendment  of  a  broad  tin 
band  around  the  crown  and  several  streamers  of  red  flannel. 
The  rest  of  his  dress  was  composed  of  an  assortment  of  articles 
of  apparel,  buckskin  leggins,  moccasins,  breech-clout,  an  infantry 
blouse,  with  a  red  shirt  on  the  outside,  a  cavalry  overcoat,  and 
a  buffalo  robe.  The  squaw  followed  her  master  in  all  his  evo 
lutions,  always  a  few  paces  at  his  heels.  She  was  perched  high 
up  jn  the  air,  astride  a  pyramid  of  rations  in  a  gunny  sack. 
Essetoyeh  evidently  anticipated  some  fine  hunting,  and  he 
brought  his  squaw  with  him  to  dress  the  meat,  to  prepare  his 
food,  and  build  for  him  a  shelter  of  branches  to  sleep  under  at 
night.  The  rest  of  our  little  party  followed  the  guide,  keeping 
along  in  compact  order  to  be  ready  to  repel  any  attack. 

The  country  over  which  we  passed  during  the  day  was  high 
and  rolling,  with  a  greater  frequency  of  running  streams,  and 
more  timber.  In  every  ravine  herds  of  antelope  and  deer 
started  in  our  path,  and  a  few  good  shots  did  not  fail  to  secure 
for  the  whole  party  a  fine  repast.  Several  small  herds  of  buf 
falo  were  seen  in  the  distance,  but  set  off  at  a  gallop  as  soon  as 
they  noticed  our  approach.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
we  reached  a  small  running  stream,  with  a  pebbly  bottom. 
Here  it  was  resolved  to  pass  the  night.  For  protection,  as  well 
as  convenience  of  wood  and  water,  we  selected  a  deep  canon, 
backed  by  the  creek,  and  by  high  rocky  bluffs.  Here  the  pack- 
animals  were  unloaded,  and  the  horses  unsaddled,  and  lariated 
in  the  broad  valley,  which  swept  away  for  a  distance  of  several 
hundred  yards  from  the  abrupt  sides  of  the  narrow  gorge.  The 
valley  was  covered  with  a  thick  young  growth,  protected  from 


234  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

the  wintry  frosts  by  the  dead  grass  which  covered  the  plain* 
My  Indian  pony  evidently  had  indulged  in  this  kind  of  feast 
before,  and  went  rooting  about  with  his  lips,  exposing  the  fresh 
green  vegetation.  Here  was  a  paradise  for  our  animals.  Af 
ter  the  inadequate  supply  of  food  it  was  assuredly  the  most  grati 
fying  experience  of  the  day  to  see  them  enjoying  themselves. 

The  surroundings  of  our  camp  had  the  a-ppearance  of  a  fine 
place  for  game,  and  everywhere  we  discovered  indications  that 
our  opinion  was  correct.  As  we  went  into  camp  a  beautiful 
herd  of  deer  started  from  the  open  space  near  the  stream,  and 
darted  into  the  bushes.  A  small  drove  of  buffalo  had  just 
passed  over  the  hill. 

As  soon  as  we  had  designated  the  site  for  the  camp  Essetoyeh, 
leaving  his  squaw  to  look  after  his  comfort  for  the  night,  accom 
panied  by  several  troopers,  set  out  on  a  hunt. 

In  the  course  of  an  hour  our  little  camp  was  established, 
tent-flies  spread,  fires  built  and  blazing  cheerfully,  water  boil 
ing,  provision  baskets  were  overhauled,  and  preparations  were 
made  generally  to  perform  the  important  and  interesting  duty 
of  laying  in  a  supply  of  provender.  On  this  occasion  every 
body  was  his  own  cook.  We  sat  around  the  fire,  each  fortified 
with  a  skewer,  made  of  a  green  stick,  sharpened  at  the  opposite 
extremity,  on  which  was  impaled  inviting  strips  of  buffalo  meat, 
deer,  and  salt  pork.  The  reader  may  smile,  and  say  a  delight 
ful  combination.  Hazen,  who  was  somewhat  of  a  connoisseur 
in  camp  cooking,  had  provided  himself  with  a  patent  broiling- 
machine,  the  merits  of  which  were  so  marked  that  the  General 
soon  found  himself  quite  busy  in  preparing  and  distributing 
specimens  of  his  skill. 

Having  laid  in  an  enormous  quantity  of  "  broiled,"  pickles, 
and  hard-tack,  tin  cups  were  unstrapped  and  filled  with  a  dense 
black  fluid,  in  which  were  huge  particles  of  coffee  floating  about. 
The  beverage  had,  at  least,  the  recommendation  of  strength. 
With  the  accession  of  a  camp  buscuit,  by  way  of  dessert,  several 
gallons  of  the  mollifying  stimulant  passed  out  of  sight  almost 
imperceptibly,  and  with  little  effort. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  235 

This  exercise  wound  up  the  labors  of  the  day.  Pipes  were 
smoked,  filled,  and  smoked  again.  As  the  potent  influence  of 
sleep  began  to  draw  about  exhausted  nature,  one  by  one,  we 
rolled  into  our  blankets,  and  amid  a  chorus  of  snores  the  night 
quickly  sped  away.  The  lonely  sentinel  paced  his  beat.  Every 
thing  was  quiet  and  undisturbed  until  the  following  dawn,  when 
the  unwelcome  reveille  awoke  us  from  our  slumbers. 

The  next  morning  we  early  broke  camp,  and  were  again  on 
the  march.  The  day  was  cloudy,  and  rain  momentarily  threat 
ened.  The  air  was  chilly  and  dense  with  dampness.  We  were 
now  approaching  the  Witchita  range,  so  as  to  obtain  a  closer 
view  of  its  general  outlines.  The  summits  of  the  higher 
peaks  were  veiled  in  a  drapery  of  mist.  The  rugged  sides,  the 
immense  boulders  towering  aloft,  or  bending  over  in  giddy 
precipices,  could  be  well  defined  with  the  aid  of  our  glasses. 
The  country  was  more  bold  and  rocky.  The  timber  was  heavier, 
and  grew  in  extensive  belts  at  the  base  of  the  mountains,  while 
their  sides  were  perfectly  bare. 

At  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we  reached  Medicine  bluff. 
Our  Indian  guide  contemplated  this  wonderful  exhibition  of 
nature  with  awe  and  reverence.  To  the  interpreter  he  said, 
pointing  to  the  conical  summit  of  the  central  elevation,  "there 
the  great  spirit  sometimes  dwells — there  the  Comanche  goes  to 
drive  out  the  bad  spirit,"  As  for  ourselves  we  were  wonder 
struck  with  the  sublimity  and  magnificence  of  the  scene.  The 
bluff  was  a  mile  in  length,  forming  a  perfect  crescent.  At  the 
base  of  the  perpendicular  scarp,  which  constituted  the  concavity 
of  the  crescent,  coursed  a  beautiful  stream  about  twenty  yards 
in  width,  called  Medicine  Bluff  creek.  In  some  places  the 
creek  seemed  bottomless,  so  that  looking  into  its  crystal  waters, 
it  had  the  appearance  of  a  basin  of  ink,  and  again  pursuing  its 
way  in  more  shallow  spots  beeame  pure  and  sparkling.  From 
the  very  brink  of  the  creek  rose  the  vertical  sides  of  the  bluff 
three  hundred  and  ten  feet  in  height  by  actual  measurement. 
The  sides  had  the  appearance  of  a  trap-rock,  and  the  strata 
Btood  almost  perpendicularly.  At  the  central  and  highest  point, 


236  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

the  strata  met,  separating  in  the  descent.  The  surface  of  this 
face  of  the  bluff  was  regular  and  perfectly  smooth.  A  minute 
species  of  moss  covered  the  sides  with  a  garb  of  pale  green, 
which  might  easily  have  been  mistaken  for  the  rock.  By  far 
the  larger  portions  of  the  face  was  perfectly  bare,  though  at 
some  places  a  few  stunted  cedars  had  found  a  lodgment  in  the 
crevices.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  in  several  places* 
the  banks  were  forty  and  fifty  feet  high,  rocky,  and  overhung 
the  stream ;  but  they  were,  however,  mostly  low,  stretching  off 
into  an  alluvial  plain. 

From  this  side,  we  amused  ourselves  by  firing  several  shots 
at  the  rocky  wall.  The  detonations  were  echoed  up  and  down 
the  valley  with  surprising  effect,  and  alarmed  a  herd  of  deer 
which  had  come  down  to  drink.  The  timid  animals  were  now 
bounding  over  the  plain  terrified  at  such  strange  sounds. 

Medicine  bluff  was,  unquestionably,  the  result  of  upheaval, 
though  an  earthquake  alone  could  have  detached  it  from  the 
adjacent  rocks.  It  was  remarkable  also  that  the  pressure  should 
have  applied  itself  to  so  small  an  area.  The  face  of  the  bluff  rose 
at  once  from  an  immense  fissure,  now  the  bed  of  Medicine 
Bluff  creek. 

Leaving  our  escort  in  the  caSbn  in  the  rear  of  the  bluff, 
and  taking  with  us  a  few  orderlies,  we  rode  as  far  up  as  the 
steep  ascent  permitted,  and  then  also  dismounted  making  the 
rest  of  the  laborious  journey  on  foot.  The  Indian  guide  Esse- 
toyeh  when  asked  to  ascend  with  us  to  point  out  and  explain 
the  country,  merely  observed  "me  no  sick"  and  obstinately 
refused  to  go  to  the  top,  but  galloped  off  in  pursuit  of  game. 

From  the  rear  the  bluff  presented  three  knolls,  the  centre 
one  being  the  highest.  The  steep  sides  were  composed  of  small 
fragments  of  rock,  indicating  that  at  one  time  they  were  made 
up  of  boulders.  The  disintegration,  however,  was  of  a  char 
acter  to  admit  of  the  growth  of  large  quantities  of  bunch  grass, 
and  a  peculiar  variety  of  flowering  cactus.  This  plant  consisted 
of  one,  two,  and  sometimes  eight  or  ten  buds,  an  inch  or  two  in 
diameter,  and  flattened  on  the  top.  The  buds  clustered  upon 


ON   THE   BO'RDERS;  237 

a  single  root,  were  covered  with  a  heavy  mail  of  spines,  and 
were  not  to  be  touched  with  impunity.  The  flower  was  of  a 
purple  tint,  and  formed  a  tuft  in  the  centre  of  the  ball.  Some 
very  fine  specimens  were  collected  by  our  party. 

Having  reached  the  central  knoll,  the  view  was  extremely 
grand.  Tho  course  of  the  Medicine  Bluff  creek  could  be  traced, 
wending  its  way  from  the  mountains,  across  the  intervening 
valley,  and  away  down  the  broad  expanse  iu  our  rear.  Mount 
Scott,  about  eight  miles  distant,  stood  before  us  with  its  pyra 
midal  outline.  Clouds  swept  by  its  rocky  summit.  It  stood 
like  a  sentinel  guarding  the  eastern  gate  to  the  mountain  range. 
The  country  on  either  side  changed  suddenly  into  a  rolling 
plain.  Between  us  and  the  mountain  swept  a  great  valley.  A 
small  herd  of  buffaloes  were  grazing  in  a  perfect  sense  of  secur 
ity  upon  the  sides  of  a  small  spur  of  the  range.  Everything 
else  was  without  life,  and  a  profound  solemn  stillness  reigned. 
From  our  commanding  position  we  looked  around  upon  the  face 
of  nature  untouched  by  the  hand  of  art,  the  very  air  was  per 
vaded  by  that  profound  reverential  solitude  whicb,  on  such 
occasions,  touches  the  soul  with  a  deep  sense  of  the  divinity  of 
creation. 

Turning  from  the  view  towards  the  mountains,  the  eye  rested 
upon  a  broad  valley.  Indeed,  so  extensive,  that  were  it  not 
completely  surrounded  by  a  range  of  low  hills,  it  might  have 
been  taken  for  an  endless  plain.  On  the  right  a  belt  of  timber 
defined  the  course  of  Cache  creek,  which  about  two  miles  from 
us  united  with  the  Medicine  Bluff  creek,  the  latter  then  losing 
its  name. 


238  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

LEGENDS  OF  MEDICINE  BLUFF. 

EDICINE  bluff,  I  afterwards  learned,  figured 
prominently  in  Indian  history,  superstitions,  and 
tradition.  The  bluff,  from  time  immemorial,  had 
been  held  in  high  reverence  by  all  the  tribes  who 
had  dwelt  or  hunted  in  the  vicinity,  and  by  none 
more  so  than  by  the  Comanches  and  the  Witchitas.  The  hill 
was  considered  to  possess  miraculous  and  mysterious  influences. 
There  the  Great  Spirit  often  descended,  and  from  the  bluff 
looked  over  and  cared  for  his  people,  saw  that  game  was  abund 
ant,  and  that  his  children  were  prosperous  and  happy.  Upon 
the  summit  of  the  principal  knoll,  the  Comanche  medicine  men 
had  erected  a  cairn  of  stones  about  six  feet  in  height.  Here 
the  sick  repaired,  or  were  brought  by  their  relatives  or  friends, 
and  were  left  to  the  invisible  presence  and  subtle  power  of  the 
Great  Father. 

It  was  told  me  by  an  aged  medicine  man,  and  with  a  manner 
of  unflinching  confidence  in  the  veracity  of  what  he  had  to  say, 
that  the  sick,  who  were  beyond  the  control  of  their  own  powers 
of  healing,  were  deposited  on  the  cairn  and  left  to  be  disposed 
of  by  the  Great  Spirit.  If  the  sick  had  not  offended  the  Spirit 
they  were  suddenly  healed  and  returned  to  their  kindred. 
Sometimes  they  were  transported  bodily  to  the  happy  hunting- 
ground.  But  if  they  had  been  notoriously  bad,  they  were 
allowed  to  die,  and  the  ravens  descended  from  the  air,  and  the 
wolf  came  up  from  the  valley  and  devoured  the  body,  and  the 
bones  were  gathered  up  by  the  bad  spirit  and  deposited  in  the 
land  of  terrors. 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  239 

He  went  on  with  great  vehemence,  and  in  proportion  as  I 
appeared  to  manifest  greater  belief,  he  embellished  his  story 
with  details.  In  a  tone  of  seriousness  and  reverence,  he  said 
in  substance,  that  in  the  darkness  the  Great  Spirit  descended 
upon  the  hill.  Upon  such  occasions  the  immediate  vicinity 
became  suddenly  lit  up  as  if  by  a  great  fire.  The  dews  of 
night,  the  rain  and  the  wind  circled  about  the  spot,  but  within 
the  small  space  on  the  very  summit,  none  of  these  agencies  of 
nature  trespassed,  and  the  patient  was  thus  protected  better 
than  if  sheltered  by  his  wigwam. 

The  old  doctor  narrated  some  remarkable  cases  which  he 
said  he  knew.  One,  for  instance,  of  an  old  warrior,  who  had 
long  lived  among  the  women  of  the  village.  He  had  long  ceased 
to  hunt  the  buffalo,  and  had  turned  out  to  await  his  time  to  join 
his  fathers.  The  old  warrior  had  struggled  to  the  top  of , the 
bluff  to  die,  and  be  borne  away  by  the  Great  Spirit.  He  had 
been  absent  three  nights.  Every  night  when  darkness  covered 
the  face  of  nature,  the  awe-stricken  people  of  the  village  below 
observed  a  great  blaze,  as  if  a  signal-fire  had  been  built  to  alarm 
them.  On  the  morning  after  the  third  night,  a  young  man, 
equipped  as  a  warrior,  was  seen  descending  the  bluff,  and  fol 
lowed  the  trail  to  the  village.  He  looked  about  him  with  sur 
prise.  He  approached  the  chief's  lodge  and  sat  by  the  fire. 
The  warriors,  with  their  arms,  gathered  around,  gazed  at  him. 
No  one  recognized  him.  All  remained  silent,  expecting  him  to 
speak.  Lighting  his  pipe,  decorated  with  beads  and  the  featners 
of  strange  birds,  he  handed  it  to  those  present,  and  each  having 
partaken  of  the  pipe,  he  told  them  his  story.  When  he  nad 
reached  the  top  of  the  hill  he  looked  off  upon  the  vast  expanse 
which  surrounded  him,  he  saw  the  village  of  his  people.  He 
could  hear  the  children  laugh,  the  dogs  bark.  He  could  hear 
his  kindred  mourning,  as  if  some  one  had  been  taken  from  them. 
He  saw  the  buffalo  and  the  deer  covering  the  plain.  He  saw 
the  sly  wolf  lying  in  wait  to  pounce  upon  his  prey.  When  he 
looked  around  and  beheld  the  young  warriors  in  all  their  pride 
and  strength,  he  asked  himself,  "  Why  do  I  live  any  longer  ? 


240  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

My  fires  have  gone. out,  I  must  follow  my  fathers.  The  world 
is  beautiful  to  the  young,  but  to  the  old  it  has  no  pleasure.  Far 
away  to  the  setting  sun  are  the  hunting-grounds  of  my  people, 
I  will  go  there."  With  this  he  gathered  up  all  that  remained 
of  his  failing  strength,  and  leaped  into  the  air  from  the  giddy 
height  before  him.  He  knew  no  more  of  the  woes  of  life.  He 
was  caught  up  in  mid-air.  He  was  transported  into  a  smiling 
country  where  game  was  without  numbers,  where  there  was  no 
rain,  no  wind,  where  the  great  chiefs  of  all  the  Comanches  were 
assembled.  They  were  all  young  and  chased  the  buffalo  and 
feasted.  There  was  no  darkness,  but  the  Great  Spirit  was 
everywhere,  and  his  people  were  continually  happy.  Beautiful 
birds  warbled  upon  the  trees,  the  war-whoop  never  penetrated 
those  sacred  realms. 

The  superstition  and  credulity  of  the  savage  was  captivated, 
and  the  young  warrior  at  once  became  an  oracle  and  a  "  big 
medicine  man  "  in  the  tribe.  His  counsel  was  all-powerful,  and 
his  abilities  to  cure  were  considered  invincible.  The  merits  of 
the  aged  warrior  were  recounted  for  the  imitation  of  the  young 
and  his  rejuvenated  successor  was  feared  and  obeyed. 

The  ancient  customs  of  late  years,  it  appears,  have  been  in  a 
great  measure  abandoned.  The  tribes  have  become  scattered 
since  the  rapid  depletion  of  the  buffalo.  But  the  reverence  for 
'he  bluff  is  still  fresh.  The  Oomanche  will  not  ascend  the  hill, 
and  during  frequent  visits  while  in  the  the  vicinity,  I  must 
admit,  I  never  saw  an  Indian  make  the  ascent. 

According  to  accounts,  the  bluff  has  also  long  been  a  famous 
place  for  suicides.  The  disappointed  and  the  disconsolate  have 
resorted  thither  to  terminate  their  miserable  existences.  I  was 
also  told  that,  until  very  late  years,  it  was  a  Comanche  custom 
that  when  a  young  warrior  was  about  to  take  the  war-path  for 
the  first  time,  he  provided  himself  with  a  shield  and  proceeded 
to  the  highest  point  of  the  bluff  for  three  successive  mornings, 
and  in  the  attitude  of  warding  off  an  arrow  or  a  spear,  presented 
the  face  of  the  shield  to  the  rising  sun.  The  sacred  surround 
ings  of  the  place,  and  the  sun,  the  emblem  of  the  Great  Spirit, 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  241 

casting  its  rays  upon  the  shield,  were  supposed  to  possess  it 
with  supernatural  powers  of  invulnerability. 

An  interesting  tradition  was  told  me  one  day,  while  sitting 
by  the  lodge-fire,  of  a  very  old  Comanche.  Indeed,  he  was  so 
old  that  he  said  that  he  was  the  brother  of  one  of  the  loftier 
peaks  of  the  Witchitas.  I  certainly  admitted  his  veracity  and 
set  him  down  as  emphatically  aboriginal.  Many  years  ago,  he 
said,  the  Comanches  were  a  great  people,  their  warriors  were 
like  the  buffaloes,  so  numerous,  and  like  the  wolf,  so  cunning. 
They  had  immense  herds  of  ponies  and  many  villages.  Every 
body  feared  them.  But  there  were  two  warriors,  braver  than 
all  the  rest.  They  vied  with  each  other  in  courting  the  dan 
gers  cf  the  war-path  and  winning  the  scalps  of  their  enemies. 
They  were  rivals  in  the  hunt.  They  tried  the  strength  and 
agility  of  each  other  in  the  village  games.  The  warriors  obeyed 
them  alike.  The  children  held  them  in  equal  awe,  and  the 
women  coveted  alike  their  favor.  This  equality  was  keenly 
felt  by  the  great  warriors,  and  each  made,  in  consequence,  ex 
traordinary  efforts  to  accomplish  something  Avhich  would  sur 
pass  the  other. 

One  day  they  were  returning  from  an  incursion  into  the  ene 
my's  country.  As  they  rested  to  graze  their  ponies  under  the 
shadow  of  Medicine  bluff,  one  of  the  warriors,  the  younger, 
gazed  upon  the  quivering  height.  For  a  moment  he  was  wrapped 
in  deep  meditation.  Suddenly  the  young  warrior  drew  himself 
up  at  full  length,  and,  turning  quickly,  in  all  the  pride  of  con 
fidence,  gazed  boldly  at  those  who  were  lounging  about  on  the 
green  grass.  His  defiant  manner  startled  his  comrades.  Several 
sprang  to  their  feet.  He  explained  :  "  I  am  the  great  warrior 
of  the  Comanches.  No  one  equals  me.  I  am  like  the  mountain. 
My  deeds  tower  above  you  as  the  mountain  does  above  the 
plain.  Where  is  the  Comanche  who  dares  follow  me?" 

As  he  said  this,  he  raised  his  shield  in  one  hand  and  his  spear 
in  the  other.  His  rival,  not  to  be  outdone,  approached  with 
majestic  tread.  "  You  the  great  warrior  of  the  Comauches," 
eaid  he,  striking  hia  breast  with  heavy  blows,  "  then  you  are 


242  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

the  buffalo  that  leads  the  herd.  I  am  the  old  bull  buffalo,  driven 
away  to  die  and  feed  the  wolf.  You  ask  me  to  follow  you.  I 
will  not  follow  you — I  will  go  with  you  I" 

All  the  warriors  of  the  party  assembled  around.  They  gazed 
with  wonder  upon  their  stalwart  comrades,  eager  to  see  what 
fresh  act  of  courage  was  contemplated.  The  rivals  arrayed 
themselves  gorgeously.  They  mounted  their  favorite  war-ponies, 
whicli  they  had  decorated  with  scalps  and  feathers.  The  two 
warriors  left  their  comrades,  who  were  surprised  at  their  singu 
lar  conduct,  and  rode  away  without  uttering  a  word.  The  party 
watched  them  until  they  disappeared  over  the  adjacent  hill. 
They  now  gathered  in  a  circle,  to  talk  over  the  strange  scene 
which  they  had  witnessed. 

The  rivals  crossed  the  rapid  flood  of  the  neighboring  stream. 
The  young  warrior  now  directed  his  steps  towards  the  sacred 
summit  of  Medicine  bluff.  When  they  had  reached  the  highest 
point,  the  younger,  pointing  to  the  fearful  brink  not  more  than 
fifty  feet  before  him,  said  to  his  companion  :  "  You  have  followed 
me  so  far — follow  me  now!"  With  these  words,  he  shouted  the 
war-whoop,  clapped  his  heels  to  his  animal's  flanks,  and  plunged 
towards  the  precipice.  His  companion,  as  quick  as  thought, 
fairly  lifted  his  spirited  steed  from  his  feet,  and,  with  a  respon 
sive  yell,  planted  himself  in  one  of  those  sublime  attitudes  call 
ing  for  desperate  resolution,  and  followed  his  rival.  The  edge 
of  the  whirling  height  was  reached  in  a  moment.  The  courage 
of  the  young  warrior  quailed.  He  reigned  his  steed  upon  his 
haunches.  The  elder  warrior  saw  the  treachery.  He  gave  a 
yell  of  triumph,  and  bounded  off  far  into  the  trembling  air. 
The  warriors  on  the  plain  below  heard  the  terrific  yell.  They 
saw  their  great  leader  leap  from  the  dreadful  height.  He  sat 
upright ;  and,  in  his  fearful  descent,  was  calm  as  if  in  council. 
He  shouted,  "  Greater  than  all  Oomanches  !" 

The  warriors  beneath  hastened  to  the  spot  where  the  fearless 
warrior  and  his  trusty  steed  lay.  Their  mangled  forms  were 
conveyed  together  to  a  neighboring  hill.  Here  the  solemn  rites 
of  burial  were  performed.  All  night  the  wind  moaned  through 


ON  THE    BORDERS.  243 

the  trees.  The  warriors  sat  in  solemn  council,  and  chanted 
their  songs  of  mourning.  They  cut  their  hair,  and  smeared 
their  faces  in  black.  In  sight  of  the  bluff",  the  spirits  of  the 
warrior  and  his  steed  were  left,  to  take  their  flight  to  the  land 
of  the  Great  Spirit. 

When  the  war-party  reached  their  village,  the  old  men  and 
the  women  came  out  to  rejoice.  They  were  met  with  the  wail 
ing  of  the  warriors,  and  saw  their  blackened  feices.  The  scene 
was  changed  to  mourning.  The  deeds  of  the  dead  warrior 
were  spoken.  The  women  nightly  gathered  in  a  neighboring 
vale  to  grieve  for  the  loss  of  the  great  warrior. 

The  young  warrior  wandered  from  village  to  village.  The 
very  dogs  snapped  at  him.  The  name  of  his  rival  he  heard 
in  every  wigwam — his  own  was  an  accursed  word  with  the 
Comanche.  He  wandered  a  stranger  in  the  world,  unknown, 
but  inwardly  punished.  A  hunting-party  in  pursuit  of  the 
buffalo,  as  was  the  custom,  passing  in  the  vicinity  to  visit  the 
grave  of  the  greatest  of  the  Comanches,  found  the  body  of  a 
warrior,  half  devoured  by  the  wolf.  The  spear  and  the  shield, 
and  bow  and  arrows,  identified  the  character  of  the  person 
when  living.  The  young  warrior,  disappointed  and  overcome 
with  remorse,  here  came  to  die  upon  the  grave  of  his  rival. 

This  story  was  told  to  a  picturesque  group  of  warriors,  who 
had  assembled  around  the  lodge-fire,  and  listened  intently. 

Story-telling  is  quite  an  art  with  the  Indian.  It  forms  an 
interesting  entertainment,  and  not  only  perpetuates,  probably 
in  an  embellished  form,  some  real  occurrence,  but  is  calculated 
to  inspire  a  tribal  pride,  which  is  a  marked  trait  in  Indian 
character.  At  one  point  in  the  bluff,  about  fifty  yards  towards 
the  right,  is  an  enormous  fissure,  or,  more  properly,  embrasure, 
about  fifteen  feet  in  width,  thirty  feet  in  depth,  and  at  least  two 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  from  the  stream  below.  In  the  rear  part 
of  the  bluff,  a  small,  sharp  ravine  leads  directly  up  to  this  open 
ing.  The  embrasure  itself  is  excessively  rugged,  its  sides  being 
composed  of  boulders  and  huge  fragments  of  disintegrated  rocks, 
which  look  as  if  they  were  about  ready  to  fall  and  crush  every- 


244  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

thing  beneath  them.  It  would  seem  as  if,  in  the  awful  convul 
sion  of  nature  which  must  have  thrown  the  underlying  strata 
into  such  an  extraordinary  position,  this,  being  the  weaker  part, 
gave  way.  In  the  process  of  time,  this  fissure  had  become  filled, 
leaving  but  the  embrasure  described.  This  would  farther  ap 
pear  to  be  correct,  for,  in  standing  in  the  embrasure  and  looking 
down,  a  sort  of  groove,  filled  with  broken  stones,  can  be  traced 
to  the  water's  edge.  The  descent  is  almost  perpendicular,  in  a 
direct  line,  but  a  few  communicating  ledges,  and  apparently 
winding  paths,  intersecting  this  apparent  crack,  makes  it  seem 
as  if  the  descent  were  feasible. 

On  one  occasion,  subsequently,  while  in  camp  near  the  bluff, 
the  writer,  with  a  friend,  tried  the  experiment  of  a  descent. 
He  succeeded  in  getting  down  about  a  hundred  feet.  The 
traces  of  wild  animals,  wolves  especially,  had  tempted  him  so 
far.  Here  they  disappeared,  and  the  further  descent  was  quite 
cut  off.  A  vertical  leap  of  forty  feet  extended  below.  Several 
rock-slides,  occasioned  by  the  displacement  of  a  few  stones  in 
the  descent,  came  crushing  by  and  in  rather  alarming  proximity. 
With  considerable  effort  and  danger  of  losing  my  footing,  I 
managed  to  reach  the  top  again  quite  relieved.  This  path  is 
known  among  the  Indians  as  the  "  Medicine  Man's  Walk,"  by 
means  of  which,  according  to  tradition,  in  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  a  famous  savage  doctor,  of  the  necromantic  art,  passes 
from  a  cave  in  the  bluff  down  to  the  stream  below,  or  out  upon 
the  summit  above.  Judging  from  my  own  experience,  the  old 
eavage  must  have  been  armed  with  claws. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  £45 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

IHE  PROPOSED  SITE  OP  A  NEW  POST— RUINS  OP  AN  INDIAN  VILLAGE — CAUGHT 
IN  A  STORM— A  RACE  FOR  LIFE. 

ESCENDTNG  the  bluff  to  the  point  where  we  had  left 
our  horses  we  rode  for  a  short  distance  along  the  hill 
side,  meeting  with  a  variety  of  springs,  saline,  sulphur, 
and  chalybeate,  all  in  close  contiguity  with  each  other. 
The  saline  spring  flowed  rapidly,  though  with  a  small 
current,  and  spread  over  a  large  basin  rock.  The  spring  was 
evidently  the  resort  of  many  of  the  wild  animals  of  the  vicinity. 
Deer  and  buffalo  tracks  were  numerous.  This  was  a  great 
temptation  to  pass  the  night  in  the  vicinity,  and  take  a  rare  op 
portunity  for  still  hunting. 

Leaving  the  bluff  we  joined  the  escort,  and  climbing  the  steep 
sides  of  the  canon  come  out  again  upon  the  open  country.  A 
spirited  ride  brought  us  to  a  high  plateau,  or  swell,  in  the  ex 
pansive  valley.  This  was  the  end  of  our  journey.  About  a 
year  before  General  Grierson  had  passed  the  spot  while  on 
an  exploring  and  scouting  expedition  towards  the  head  waters 
of  the  Red  river.  This  point  lay  about  seventy-five  miles  from 
Fort  Arbuckle  west.  The  tract  consisted  of  a  high  level  sweep 
of  about  two  hundred  acres.  Ten  miles  distant,  west  north 
west,  lay  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  Witchita  mountains. 
Medicine  Bluff  creek  passed  on  the  north-eastern  and  eastern 
sides,  at  the  foot  of  a  clay  and  gravel  bluff,  about  fifty  feet  in 
height,  and  a  mile  lower  down  joined  Cache  creek.  The  latter 
stream  is  a  tributary  of  the  Red  river.  In  the  vicinity  we  found 
red  and  yellow  sand-stone,  and  an  excellent  quality  of  lime 
stone.  Oak*  cotton-wood*  walnut*  pecan*  ash*  elm*  hackberry, 


i'4G  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

mulberry,  and  Osage  orange  grew  in  greater  abundance  than 
bad  as  yet  been  seen  on  the  surrounding  plain.  Buffalo,  gam 
ma,  and  mosquite  grasses  were  met  with  in  great  luxuriance, 
and  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  notwithstanding  the  frequent  se 
vere  northers,  and  inclement  winter  weather,  under  the  lee  of 
the  hills  the  young  grass  gave  quite  a  green  cast  to  the  surface. 
Game  was  evidently  abundant,  including  black  bear  and  pan 
ther. 

Essetoyeh,  having  declined  to  ascend  Medicine  bluff,  had  left 
our  party  with  his  squaw,  and  having  cleared  the  canon,  dis 
covered  a  small  herd  of  buffaloes  within  four  hundred  yards  of 
him.  He  gave  pursuit,  and  after  putting  several  arrows  into 
one  of  the  unfortunate  brutes  succeeded  in  bringing  him  down 
with  his  carbine. 

When  we  arrived  on  the  spot  the  choice  parts  of  the  animal 
had  been  appropriated  by  Madame  Essetoyeh,  and  were  lying 
around  in  heaps  on  the  ground.  She  was  now  busily  engaged 
in  getting  the  meat  in  some  sort  of  a  transportable  condition, 
and  had  already  festooned  her  pony  with  several  yards  of 
hump.  The  madam  having  taken  her  share  the  escort  went  to 
work  with  busy  knives,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  wolf  would  have 
turned  up  his  nose  at  what  was  left.  It  was  now  proposed  that 
we  would  celebrate  the  occasion,  and  honor  the  locality  with  a 
repast,  gotten  up  in  true  primitive  style.  The  horses  were 
lariated  on  the  plateau,  and  while  a  guard  was  left  to  watch 
them,  and  at  the  same  time  to  look  out  for  Indians,  we  buUt 
fires  under  the  gravel  bluff.  We  commenced  broiling  small 
"  hunks  "  of  meat  in  a  lively  manner.  Madam  Essetoyeh  had 
set  apart  a  choice  portion  of  the  buffalo,  broiled  it,  and  now 
handed  it  over  to  us  with  her  compliments.  Courtesy  prevented 
our  declining  to  receive  the  proffered  kindness,  though  we  all 
preferred,  under  the  circumstances,  to  do  our  own  cooking,  and 
to  select  our  meat. 

The  dampness  of  the  atmosphere  in  the  morning  now  more 
than  ever  threatened  rain.  It  was  proposed,  therefore,  to  set 
the  escort  in  motion  back  towards  the  camp  of  the  previous 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  247 

evening.  Our  meal  was  thus  abruptly  terminated.  Grierson, 
Woodward,  and  myself  were,  however,  determined  to  visit  some 
coal  veins  and  bitumen  springs  known  to  exist  about  eight  miles 
farther  on.  The  Indian  guide  designated  the  spot  to  us,  so  leav 
ing  the  command  to  get  ready  to  retrace  its  steps  our  little  party, 
with  three  orderlies,  set  out  on  a  private  tour  of  exploration. 

On  the  way  to  the  Cache  creek  crossing  we  passed  the  ruins 
of  an  old  Witchita  village.  The  Witchitas,  according  to  tra 
dition,  were  the  original  owners  of  the  country,  and  gave  names 
to  the  different  localities.  These  people,  however,  under  the 
wear  and  tear  of  constant  attacks,  and  a  feeling  of  insecurity  at 
the  presence  of  so  many  of  the  warlike  tribes,  some  years  be 
fore  had  abandoned  the  country,  and  established  themselves 
upon  the  north  bank  of  the  Washita,  about  forty  miles  distant. 

The  Witchitas,  as  far  back  as  tradition  speaks  of  them, 
either  among  their  own  people,  or  the  other  tribes,  were  cele 
brated  as  being  great  deer  hunters,  and  cultivating  crops.  They 
seldom  went  to  war,  except  in  defence  of  their  homes.  They 
lived  in  regular  houses,  similar  in  form  to  an  ordinary  wigwam, 
but  constructed  of  thatch  and  mud,  and  raised  corn,  pumpkins, 
and  beans.  When  I  visited  fhe  spot  the  only  traces  left  were 
heaps  of  earth,  a  number  of  large  circular  holes,  as  if  the  lodges 
were  dug  out  before  the  superstructure  was  put  on,  and  several 
acres  of  vines,  with  bushels  of  frost-bitten  mock-oranges.  The 
whole  place  was  overgrown  with  these  vines. 

In  the  days  of  their  prosperity  the  Witchitas  kept  up  a  brisk 
trade  with  the  wandering  tribes.  They  bartered  corn,  and  their 
other  agricultural  products,  for  buffalo  robes  and  ponies.  All 
the  men  did  was  to  hunt  for  meat,  as  the  improvident  habits  of 
the  wandering  tribes  made  any  dependence  on  them  rather  a  pre 
carious  way  of  living.  The  women  mostly  tilled  the  soil  and 
raised  the  crops.  The  tribe,  through  various  causes,  the  ambi 
tious  young  men  joining  war-parties,  and  difficulties  frequently 
arising  with  other  tribes,  led  to  trouble.  The  vast  herds  of  the 
Witchitas  were  scattered,  and  finally  the  bands  themselves  were 
compelled  to  remove,  in  order  to  save  what  little  they  had  left. 


248  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

The  name  Cache  is  evidently  of  French  origin,  the  word 
meaning  a  hiding  place.  It  must  have  been  applied  to  the 
stream  by  the  voyageurs  in  allusion  to  the  custom  of  the  Wit- 
chitas  to  cache,  or  secure  in  large  holes  for  the  purpose,  the 
productions  of  their  labor. 

After  a  ride  of  nearly  two  hours  we  readied  a  deep  canon,  in 
which  the  traces  of  coal,  with  a  surrounding  of  blue  clay,  were 
very  readily  found.  An  examination  indicated  that  it  must 
exist  in  considerable  quantities  deeper  in  the  earth,  though  that 
which  we  handled  was  too  slaty  to  be  of  use.  The  bitumen, 
however,  was  less  easily  to  be  found.  We  scoured  the  summit 
of  several  hills  before  we  discovered  it.  The  substance  was  now 
quite  hard  from  the  cold  weather,  though  it  was  very  apparent 
that  it  had  oozed  through  crevices  in  the  earth,  owing  to  a  great 
subterranean  pressure.  The  surface  was  covered  with  it  in  large 
quantities.  An  experiment  with  some  small  pieces  the  writer 
carried  to  camp  with  him  proved  that  it  was  highly  flammable. 

Having  satisfied  our  curiosity  in  these  explorations,  we  pro 
ceeded  to  retrace  our  steps  so  as  to  make  camp  by  dark.  In 
stead  of  following  the  same  route,  by  which  we  came  out,  we 
headed  directly  for  the  trail  of  the  escort,  in  hopes  of  intercept 
ing  it  and  following  it  back.  By  this  time  a  drizzling  rain  had 
begun.  Our  discomfort  was  increased  by  the  necessity  of  cross 
ing  numerous  streams,  and  forcing  our  way  through  almost 
impenetrable  brakes.  By  way  of  a  diversion,  a  steep  bank 
along  which  we  were  riding  gave  way,  precipitating  Grierson 
and  his  horse  some  twenty  feet  below.  Fortunately  they 
escaped  without  injury. 

The  country  through  which  we  passed  was  alive  with  game. 
The  weather  had  driven  every  species  of  animal  life  into  the 
sheltered  valleys.  In  several  instances  we  came  within  a  few 
feet  of  some  stray  buffaloes  before  they  discovered  us.  The 
number  of  deer  was  surprising.  Everything  surrounding  us 
was  in  its  wildest  solitude.  The  foot  of  the  white  man  had 
never  trod  the  soil. 

A  ride  of  six  miles  brought  us  to  the  outward  trail,  but  no 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  249 

signs  of  the  return  of  the  party.  It  could  not  have  been  pos 
sible  that  the  escort  was  behind  us,  and  it  was  not  a  pleasant 
thing  to  suppose  that  they  had  been  driven  out  of  their  path  by 
a  body  of  hostile  Indians.  We  had  but  one  course  to  pursue. 
There  were  but  six  altogether  in  our  party.  We  had  our  arms 
with  us,  but  no  supplies.  We  got  on  the  trail  determined  to 
follow  it  back  to  the  old  camp,  and  if  we  found  no  one  there, 
decided  to  push,  during  the  night,  as  best  we  could  towards  the 
Washita. 

Darkness  soon  enveloped  us.  The  impenetrable  clouds  over 
head,  cast  a  shadow  over  the  lights  of  the  night,  and  the  rain 
which  was  falling,  multiplied  the  discomforts  of  our  situation. 
The  very  blackness  of  darkness  reigned.  It  was  impossible  to 
penetrate  the  terrible  gloom.  We  allowed  our  animals  to  take 
their  own  course,  and  kept  close  to  each  other  by  frequently 
exchanging  words.  An  hour  of  annoying  uncertainty  thus 
prevailed.  We  scanned  the  black  element  in  front,  in  hopes 
of  discovering  the  friendly  light  of  the  camp-fire.  We  struck 
the  creek.  Ascending  the  bank  we  were  soon  relieved  by  the 
challenge  of  the  sentinel.  A  few  steps  farther  on  we  saw  the 
light  of  the  fires.  The  rain  had  now  set  in  harder  than  ever. 
Everything  in  camp  was  wet,  and  fires  would  scarcely  burn. 
Our  tent-flies  were  of  little  use  to  us.  The  rain  blew  in  on 
all  sides.  Under  these  circumstances  a  supper  on  hard-tack  was 
a  luxurious  repast,  and  soon  we  all  threw  ourselves  upon  the 
ground  to  pass  a  wet  and  cheerless  night. 

Rain  !  Rain  I !  Rain  ! !  1  The  livelong  night  the  liquid  element 
pattered  upon  our  leaky  protection  over  head.  The  next  morn 
ing  we  found  ourselves  in  several  inches  of  water.  The  canon 
in  which  we  had  established  ourselves,  was  evidently  poorly 
drained.  We  were  in  a  sorry  plight.  Wet  to  the  skin,  The 
animals  were  jaded,  and  had  not  rested  at  all  through  the  night. 
It  was  now  necessary  to  return  to  the  Washita  as  quickly  as 
possible.  Our  camp  arrangements  were  gathered  and  packed 
upon  the  animals,  and  by  eight  o'clock  we  left  the  comfortless 
spot  without  regret. 


250  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

Rising  out  of  the  canon  we  encountered  a  change  of  tem 
perature.  A  fearful  "  norther  "  was  sweeping  over  the  plain, 
and  the  entire  face  of  nature  exposed  to  its  force,  was  covered 
with  a  crystal  surface.  The  trees,  the  high  grass,  and  under 
growth  were  covered  with  ice.  The  wind  and  cold  rain  were 
directly  in  our  faces.  Our  animals  refused  to  advance.  It  re 
quired  a  vigorous  belaboring  to  get  them  warmed  up  before 
they  would  brave  the  storm. 

We  had  eight  hours  ride  before  us.  A  trying  prospect,  wet 
and  half  frozen  as  we  were.  We  ventured  to  make  the  attempt, 
though  many  were  the  fears  that  some  would  be  found  missing 
before  we  could  reach  the  other  end  of  our  journey.  There 
was  another  danger  which  the  omnipotence  of  Providence  alone 
could  control.  That  was  the  element  around  us.  The  tem 
perature  was  now  at  freezing,  and  the  air  began  to  grow  colder. 
Should  the  "  norther  "  suddenly  change  to  one  of  that  merciless 
character  often  experienced,  and  so  often  causing  the  death  of 
parties,  both  white  man  and  red,  our  case  was  hopeless.  It 
frequently  occurs  that  from  a  severe  rain,  a  "  norther  "  follows 
in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  changing  the  temperature  from 
comparative  summer  into  the  depths  of  winter.  These  were 
our  fears.  It  was  known  no  Indian  would  leave  his  lodge  such 
a  day  as  this.  The  rain  fell,  and  the  fierce  north  wind  blew. 
The  streams  were  swollen,  and  the  low  grounds  flooded.  Cold, 
wet,  and  numb,  each  one  of  our  party  pushed  ahead  as  best  he 
could.  There  was  no  order.  Every  one  now  looked  out  for 
himself.  An  animal  falling  by  the  way-side,  would  cost  a 
human  being.  The  temperature  was  watched  with  solicitude. 
Every  change  was  noted,  for  upon  this  fickle  thread  rested  our 
safety. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  Washita  was  reached.  The  water 
now  flowed  in  a  threatening  turbid  flood.  So  near  our  destina 
tion,  we  were  not  to  be  delayed.  Away  we  went,  splashing  and 
sinking,  and  rising,  some  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  some 
heading  up,  stemming  the  current,  some  losing  their  direction 
and  carried  down  in  the  rapid  waters.  We  crossed  safely.  No 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  "1\ 

one  lost.  We  were  now  soon  in  camp,  but  in  a  sorry  pl^ht, 
presenting  the  appearance  of  a  combination  of  ice,  wet,  and  mud. 
Reaching  camp,  the  hardships  we  had  endured  were  more 
sensible.  Swollen  hands  and  feet,  painful  in  the  extreme,  vere 
the  lot  of  every  one.  Four  of  the  troopers  were  unable  to  uis- 
mount.  They  had  to  be  taken  from  their  horses  and  seni  to 
the  hospital.  Several  men  fainted,  overcome  with  exhaustion. 
Several  horses  laid  down,  never  to  rise.  As  for  myself,  I  found 
it  necessary  to  cut  my  boots  from  my  feet.  With  a  roaring 
fire  in  my  tent,  I  sat  for  a  half  hour  in  the  interesting  attitude 
of  holding  my  hands  and  feet  in  cold  water.  Both  these  ex 
tremities  felt  as  if  a  thousand  needles  were  going  through  them. 
An  inward  application  of  hot  punch  and  a  night  rolled  up  in 
blankets  and  buffalo-robes,  found  me  in  good  spirits  the  next 
morning,  more  than  could  be  said  for  some  days  of  the  majority 
of  our  party. 


26*         SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

NEWS  FROM  TIIE  BASCOM  COLUMN — DISTRIBUTION  OP  ANNUITY  GOODS — MOVDSG 

CAMP — TIDINGS  FROM  CARR — ASCENT  OF  MOUNT  SCOTT — AN  UNPLEASANT 

PREDICAMENT. 

HE  object  of  the  expedition  was  satisfactorily  accom 
plished.  The  Commanding  General  made  up  his  mind 
at  once  to  abandon  the  old  camp  and  establish  tho 
troops  at  the  new  site,  where  it  was  proposed  also  to 
erect  a  permanent  post.  During  the  delay,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  incessant  rains  which  had  fallen  since  our  memo 
rable  ride,  information  was  received  from  Indian  sources  that  a 
column  of  troopers  had  suddenly  appeared  at  the  western  ex 
tremity  of  the  Witchitas,  about  forty  miles  distant.  This  column, 
it  was  reported,  had  attacked  and  destroyed  a  Comanche  vil 
lage  of  sixty  lodges.  At  first  the  report  was  doubted  as  a 
story,  fabricated  by  the  Indians  around  camp.  To  confirm  these 
rumors,  several  paid  Indian  runners  and  scouts  were  sent  out 
to  communicate  with  the  column,  if  it  existed.  All  the  runners 
and  scouts  returned,  confirming  the  Indian  stories.  B  was  dis 
covered  that  this  was  Evans'  column,  which  had  moved  out  from 
Fort  Bascom,  in  New  Mexico.  Lieutenant  Hunter,  of  the  expe 
dition,  with  an  escort,  had  now  arrived  at  headquarters.  Orders 
were  sent  out  for  the  column  to  await  supplies  on  the  Washita, 
thirty  miles  above.  The  Commanding  General,  accompanied  by 
several  officers  and  an  escort,  rode  to  Evans'  camp.  The  sup 
plies  were  also  hastened  forward,  so  as  to  lose  no  time  by  delay. 
Evans  left  Fort  Bascom,  the  previous  November,  with  six 
companies  of  the  3d  cavalry,  one  company  of  the  37th  infantry, 
Captain  Gageby,  and  four  mountain  howitzers,  Lieutenant 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  253 

Sullivan.  December  4,  he  reached  Monument  creek,  in  the 
state  of  Texas,  a  march  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  miles. 
Here  he  established  a  depot  of  supplies,  with  a  garrison  of 
twenty  men,  under  Captain  Carpenter.  With  his  command, 
Evans  now  set  out  in  search  of  Indians.  He  had  not  gone  far 
when  he  struck  a  trail.  On  the  twenty-fourth  he  encountered 
a  hunting-party,  which  he  immediately  pursued.  The  next 
day,  Christmas,  he  was  attacked  by  a  band  of  warriors,  but 
soon  routed  them  and  drove  them  so  precipitately  through  theii 
village  that  the  women  and  children  had  barely  time  to  mount 
their  ponies  and  flee.  In  some  cases  four  Indians  mounted  a 
single  pony.  The  village  was  situated  at  the  foot  of  one  of  the 
highest  peaks  of  the  Witchitas.  Sixty  lodges  were  destroyed, 
together  with  five  tons  of  buffalo  meat,  a  hundred  bushels  of 
corn,  and  an  abundance  of  articles  of  value  to  the  savages.  The 
squaws  and  children  having  taken  to  the  mountains,  the  war 
riors  kept  up  a  lively  whooping,  and  were  circling  around 
while  the  troopers  were  making  short  work  of  their  former  hab 
itations.  Evans  again  took  the  trail  the  next  day,  but  was 
obliged  to  withdraw  on  account  of  lack  of  provisions. 

The  brave  troopers  had  been  out  twenty-four  days  in  snow 
and  rain,  and  intensely  cold  weather,  without  tent  of  any  kind. 
They  had  marched  four  hundred  miles  and  lost  about  eighty 
horses.  In  the  Indian  village  three  men  were  wounded.  This 
bold  dash  of  so  small  a  body  of  troops  had  a  decided  effect  upon 
the  savages,  who  had  retired  to  the  western  end  of  the  moun 
tains,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Antelope  hills  and  on  the 
confines  of  the  Llano  Estacado.  A  few  days  after,  deputations 
of  chiefs  and  warriors  came  in  from  the  Cheyennes  and  Arrapa- 
hoes,  to  see  what  the  big  white  chief  "  wanted." 

Orders  were  given  to  Evans  to  scour  the  country  towards 
the  head  waters  of  the  Red  and  to  return  to  Bascom.  Probably 
never  were  the  occupants  of  that  wild  and  unexplored  region 
thrown  into  greater  consternation.  Afterwards  it  was  learned 
that  a  delegation  of  Comanches  went  to  Bascom  immediately 
after  Evans'  attack,  and  wished  to  surrender.  They  were  in 


254  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

the  wildest  fright,  declaring  that,  to  the  eastward,  the  warriors 
of  the  Great  Father  Washington  were  as  numerous  as  the  trees 
of  the  forest. 

A  large  amount  of  annuity  goods,  due  to  the  tribes,  according 
to  the  old  "  treaties  "  with  the  government,  having  been  accumu 
lated  at  Fort  Cobb,  orders  were  sent  to  the  villages  that  a  dis 
tribution  would  take  place  at  a  certain  time.  Early  in  the 
morning  the  warriors,  with  thetr  families,  gathered  in.  It 
was  the  day  for  the  issue  of  annuities  to  the  Peneteghtka 
Comanches.  The  squaws,  with  their  papooses  and  dogs, 
seated  themselves  in  a  semi-circle  in  front  of  the  goods,  which 
had  been  tossed  from  under  a  tarpaulin  warehouse.  The  war 
riors  of  the  band  sat  in  a  body  opposite  to  the  semi-circle. 
The  civil  and  war-chiefs,  and  one  of  the  head  warriors,  were, 
within  the  circle  and  had  the  active  part  of  the  distribution  in 
charge.  A  number  of  officers  of  the  garrison  had  also  assem 
bled.  The  goods  consisted  of  the  following  articles  for  males : 
a  suit  of  black  shoddy  clothes,  price  paid  by  the  government, 
thirteen  dollars.  Value  nothing,  labor  excepted.  Hats,  red 
flannel  shirts,  case-knives  paint,  red  flannel  in  piece,  looking- 
glasses,  coarse  and  fine-tooth  combs.  For  the  women,  calico, 
red  flannel  in  piece,  stockings,  awls,  fine  combs  and  coarse 
needles.  Tobacco  for  both  sexes. 

The  chiefs,  who  had  the  business  in  hand,  felt  their  importance 
and  kept  up  a  distracting  ordering  about.  Each  warrior  was 
called  by  name.  As  he  approached,  the  old  chief  simultaneously 
seized  a  hat  by  the  rim,  a  pair  of  pantaloons  by  one  leg,  or  a 
coat  or  shirt  by  one  sleeve,  and  shied  them  at  him.  The  war 
rior  gathered  the  goods  out  of  the  dirt  and  resumed  his  seat. 
The  same  form  was  courteously  observed  towards  the  women. 

After  the  distribution  was  fairly  under  way,  the  scene  was 
quite  amusing.  The  first  thing  done  by  the  warriors  was  to 
cut  the  seats  out  of  the  pantaloons  and  put  them  on  over  leg- 
gins  and  breech-clout.  Next  they  put  on  their  coats,  and  over 
these  their  red  flannel  shirts,  and  on  their  heads  the  puritanical 
hat,  with  which  they  were  provided. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  255 

The  boys  did  not  stop  to  cut  the  seat  out  of  their  breeches, 
or  to  abbreviate  their  dimensions,  A  boy  of  six  years  was  often 
the  recipient  of  pantaloons  large  enough  for  a  three  hundred 
pounder.  The  contractor  must  have  had  a  diabolical  idea  of 
the  physical  development  of  a  red  juvenile.  Warriors  might 
now  be  seen  strutting  about,  each  arrayed  in  two  pairs  of  pants, 
two  or  three  hats,  and  three  or  four  shirts,  all  on.  The  boys, 
particularly,  fancied  sporting  their  red  flannel  shirts. 

The  squaws  invariably  put  on  their  stockings  over  their 
moccasins  and  leggins.  The  writer  interested  himself  in  the 
enlightenment  of  a  pretty  maiden  on  the  subject,  greatly  to  the 
merriment  of  a  bevy  of  old  hags,  who  closely  watched  these 
elementary  lessons  in  civilization. 

After  all  the  goods  had  been  distributed,  the  band  broke  up 
and  returned  to  the  village.  The  next  day  most  of  the  articles 
found  their  way  to  the  tent  of  the  Indian  trader,  who  gave 
sugar  in  exchange. 

The  sixth  of  January  was  clear  and  cold.  The  opportunity 
of  this  change  was  seized  to  move  camp  to  the  vicinity  of  Medi 
cine  bluff.  The  streams  were  much  swollen,  and  the  open  plain 
was  almost  impassable.  The  movement  of  the  column  was, 
therefore,  slow  and  tedious.  The  wind  blowing  during  the 
day  had  rapidly  dried  the  high  grass.  Towards  the  east  the 
grass  had  been  fired  by  some  lurking  savages.  The  flame, 
carried  before  the  wind,  soon  enveloped  the  entire  country  in  a 
blaze.  During  the  day  it  frequently  became  necessary  to  halt 
the  column  to  allow  the  great  waves  of  flame  to  pass.  The 
scene  that  night  was  truly  sublime.  A  sea  of  fire  surrounded 
us,  and  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  sheets  of  blaze  and  smoke 
could  be  seen  leaping  before  the  wind,  in  the  wildest  fury, 
driving  the  terrified  buffalo,  antelope,  deer,  and  wolf,  from  his 
favorite  resort. 

The  next  day  the  flood-gates  of  "heaven  were  again  opened. 
The  column  crept  along  at  a  toilsome  pace  through  mud  and 
slush.  The  advance  party,  consisting  of  the  Commanding 
General  and  escort,  reached  Medicine  bluff  early  in  the  after- 


256  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

noon.  The  rain  descended  in  torrents.  Finding  it  impossible 
for  the  train  to  come  up  that  day,  a  courier  was  dispatched  to 
bring  up  the  headquarters'  wagons.  After  several  hours'  drench 
ing,  the  wagons  arrived  and  tents  were  pitched.  The  rest  of 
the  command  was  at  least  ten  miles  in  the  rear.  During  the 
night,  another  of  the  frequent  tornadoes  of  the  country  visited 
us.  This  time,  however,  it  was  most  heartily  welcome..  The 
plain  was  frozen,  so  as  to  relieve  the  column  of  its  difficulties 
in  reaching  its  destination  the  next  day. 

It  was  not  until  the  tenth  of  the  month  that  the  weather  had 
settled  sufficiently  to  permit  the  transfer  of  headquarters  in 
closer  proximity  to  the  camps  of  the  troops,  located  in  the  im 
mediate  vicinity  of  the  site  of  the  post.  A  sheltered  nook, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  farther  down  the  stream,  had  been 
selected,  and  here  we  fixed  ourselves  for  a  long  stay.  The 
Medicine  Bluff  creek  ran  in  our  rear,  with  a  dense  forest  of 
cotton-wood  beyond.  A  range  of  low  bluffs  rose  in  front.  A 
short  distance  up  the  stream,  was  the  camp  of  the  seventh,  and 
below,  that  of  the  tenth.  The  volunteers  were  in  camp  two 
miles  nearer  the  mountains. 

The  Commanding  General  was  anxious  and  restless.  The 
trains,  which  should  have  arrived  from  the  east,  had  not  yet 
appeared.  The  rains  again  set  in  with  all  their  fury.  The 
country  was  inundated.  At  camp,  the  prospect  was  anything 
but  cheering.  The  troops  were  suffering  for  clothes.  The 
animals  were  exhausted  and  dying  in  large  numbers.  Forage 
was  nearly  out,  and  rations  were  growing  alarmingly  scarce. 
Not  satisfied  with  the  course  matters  were  taking,  orders  were 
given  to  relieve  the  animals  from  all  duty.  They  were  driven 
in  herds,  with  a  strong  guard,  to  a  valley  several  miles  from 
camp,  to  eke  out  an  existence,  as  best  they  could,  on  the  dry 
grass.  The  General  himself,  with  his  quartermaster,  McGon- 
nigle,  and  California  Joe,  as  escort  and  avant  courier,  set  out 
for  Fort  Arbuckle,  in  spite  of  rain  and  mud.  The  trains  from 
the  east,  which  he  had  ordered  to  be  fitted  out  the  preceding 
fall,  had  failed  him.  To  farther  discourage  the  future  move- 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  257 

merits  of  the  troops,  dispatches  were  received  from  Carr's 
column,  which  was  designed  to  operate  from  Fort  Lyon,  along 
the  Cimmaron  and  the  North  Fork  of  the  Canadian.  The 
movement  was  fruitless  of  results.  After  marching  over  a  large 
expanse  of  country,  experiencing  terrible  snow-storms  and  the 
loss  of  a  large  number  of  animals,  the  command  retraced  its 
steps,v 

The  troops  were  likely  to  remain  some  time  at  the  camp  on 
Medicine  bluff.  An  occasion  so  favorable  to  exploration  was 
not  to  be  lost.  The  Wichita  mountains  were  a  sealed  book,  as 
far  as  any  knowledge  within  their  immense  walls  was  concerned. 

A  week  after  our  arrival  in  the  vicinity,  in  company  with 
Generals  Hazen  and  Kidd,  of  the  tenth,  an  interpreter,  and  an 
Indian  guide,  the  writer  set  out  for  this  wild  region.  A  single 
orderly  composed  our  escort,  and  a  pack  mule  our  transportation 
for  camping  accommodations  and  rations. 

About  six  miles  on  our  way,  we  confronted  a  high  ridge, 
composed  of  a  mass  of  enormous  rocks.  Our  guide  conducted 
us  through  by  an  Indian  trail,  which  made  its  way  in  tortuous 
disregard  of  a  direct  line.  Upon  the  crest  of  the  ridge  we 
halted  for  some  minutes  to  enjoy  the  landscape.  It  was  va 
ried  and  extensive.  The  silver  stream,  suddenly  appearing 
from  its  mountain  spring,  leaped  into  the  valley,  the  frown 
ing  granite  scarp  of  Mount  Scott,  the  grove,  and  the  plain, 
all  blended  in  agreeable  harmony.  Large  herds  of  Indian 
ponies  were  scattered  here  and  there,  watched  by  Indian  boys. 
The  white,  cone-shaped  lodge  of  the  Comanche,  seated  in 
retired  groves,  and  the  circling  smoke  winding  into  the  air, 
could  be  plainly  descried.  These  villages,  which  had  followed 
us  from  the  Washita,  had  selected  this  luxuriant  section  for  the 
new  seat  of  their  lodge-fires. 

We  descended  into  the  valley,  and  a  ride  of  several  miles 
brought  us  to  a  suitable  spot  upon  which  to  spread  our  tent-fly 
and  build  our  fire  for  the  night.  We  had  now  reached  the 
north-eastern  base  of  the  eastern  peak  of  the  Witchitas,  on  a 
nameless  stream,  tributary  to  the  Medicine  bluff.  Beyond, 

17 


258  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

about  a  hundred  yards  distant,  we  had  as  neighbors  a  Yampa- 
riko  Comanche  village. 

After  feeding  the  animals,  and  regaling  ourselves  upon  strips 
of  buffalo-meat,  early  in  the  afternoon,Hazen,  Kidd,  and  myself, 
saddled  our  horses  for  an  ascent  of  Scott.  The  rest  of  the 
party  were  left  in  camp.  After  a  short  gallop,  we  reached  the 
base  of  the  towering  height  above  us.  We  began  the  ascent 
on  horseback,  winding  among  rocks,  scaling  boulders,  moving 
along  dizzy  ledges,  with  no  pleasant  anticipations  should  the 
animals  lose  their  footing. 

During  the  ascent,  while  deeply  engaged  in  observing  the 
sublimity  of  surrounding  nature,  my  attention  was  arrested  by 
repeated  spasmodic  efforts  in  the  vicinity  of  the  tail  of  my  horse. 
It  required  but  an  instant  to  recognize  the  fact  that  the  animal 
was  making  extraordinary  efforts  to  elevate  his  heels,  but  the 
angle  of  ascent  was  greater  than  the  horse  could  overcome.  Tt 
did  not  require  a  second  invitation  for  me  to  dismount,  for  had 
I  not  done  so  voluntarily  I  might  the  next  moment  have  found 
myself  sliding  like  an  avalanche  over  my  horse's  crupper,  which 
the  saddle  now  did  without  me.  With  great  effort,  and  cer 
tainly  with  no  little  inconvenience  on  the  part  of  the  animals, 
we  reached  a  sheltered  ledge.  Farther  ascent,  mounted,  was 
found  to  be  an  impossibility.  While  Kidd,  not  satisfied,  and 
having  a  wager  in  view,  set  out  around  the  crest  of  the  moun 
tain  in  hopes  of  finding  some  means  of  attaining  the  top,  the 
general  and  myself  tied  our  horses  to  a  stunted  pine  tree,  and 
proceeded  on  foot. 

The  ascent  of  the  main  summit  was  extremely  hazardous  and 
difficult.  An  immense  slab  of  two  hundred  feet  square,  pre 
senting  that  area  of  exposed  flat  surface,  lay  against  the  side 
of  the  mountain  at  an  angle  of  a  least  thirty  degrees.  After 
considerable  exertion,  continually  experiencing  imminent  dan 
ger  of  sliding  back,  we  struck  the  great  mass  of  boulders  which 
constituted  the  cap  of  the  mountain.  As  we  toiled  upward, 
jumping  from  boulder  to  boulder,  frequently  climbing  from  ledge 
to  ledge  by  means  of  cedar  trees  growing  in  the  fissures  of  the 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  259 

rock,  we  encountered  several  enormous  caverns,  which  were 
evidently  the  habitations  of  the  savage  beasts,  the  sole  and  un 
disputed  possessors  of  that  wild  and  secluded  spot. 

An  hour  of  the  severest  physical  exertion  brought  us  to  the 
end  of  our  journey.  The  summit  of  the  mountain  consisted  of 
a  sunken  bed,  surrounded  by  rugged  walls  of  granite,  having 
much  the  appearance  of  the  crater  of  an  extinct  volcano.  This 
level  space  was  covered  with  fragments  of  rock  and  earth.  The 
latter  was  thickly  overgrown  with  a  wiry  grass.  The  sun  was 
setting.  The  view  was  sublime.  Fifty  miles  distant  south 
ward  could  be  traced  the  dark  line  of  the  valley  of  the  Red 
river.  Towards  the  west  lay  the  confused  mass  of  the  bold 
precipitous  mountains  and  towering  peaks.  At  the  other  end 
stood  Mount  Webster,  rising  upon  the  heavens  like  a  dense 
black  storm-cloud.  In  all  other  directions  spread  out  the  bound 
less  plain.  Immediately  at  our  feet  coursed  the  sparkling  waters 
of  the  Medicine  bluff,  connecting  a  series  of  small  lakes.  Upon 
their  banks  were  situated  the  villages  of  the  Comanches,  who, 
satisfied  with  war,  had  returned  to  their  favorite  haunts  to  en 
joy  peace. 

While  admiring  from  an  overhanging  cliff  -the  solitude  and 
sublimity  of  the  prospect,  which  lay  around  us,  a  voice  from 
beneath  our  feet  attracted  our  attention.  It  was  Kidd,  who  had 
succeeded  in  reaching  a  point  at  least  three  hundred  feet  below 
us.  After  great  effort  he  had  managed  to  get  his  horse  that 
distance,  and  had  left  him  while  he  climbed  to  the  top  of  an 
immense  boulder,  from  which  he  was  getting  a  partial  view  of 
the  country. 

At  the  suggestion  of  the  Major  we  determined  to  make  the 
descent  by  his  route,  which  we  imagined  would  bring  us  back 
more  expeditiously  to  our  horses.  As  it  was  fast  growing  night 
we  took  a  last  survey,  through  the  darkening  atmosphere,  and 
began  to  find  our  way  down.  We  soon  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  laws  of  force,  as  regarded  mountains,  acted  in  reverse. 
We  found  it  infinitely  more  difficult  to  get  down  from  our 
elevated  position  than  we  had  experienced  in  getting  up. 


260  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

By  the  application  of  divers  gymnastic  feats  we  made  our 
way  to  the  foot  of  the  larger  boulders  only  to  find  ourselves 
hemmed  in  by  great  and  almost  impenetrable  patches  of  scrub 
oak  and  briars.  To  increase  the  perplexities  of  our  situation  it 
was  now  quite  dark.  "We  groped  our  way  through,  heading  as 
best  we  knew  how,  to  get  around  the  mountain  to  our  horses. 
We  were  in  constant  danger  of  stepping  into  some  of  the  nume 
rous  yawning  fissures  in  the  rocks,  or  perhaps  wandering  over 
the  frightful  scarp  of  the  mountain,  which  lay  on  our  right. 
In  consequence  of  these  weighty  reasons  I  propped  to  the 
General,  who  was  pretty  well  blown  after  the  exertion  of  the 
afternoon,  to  find  a  place  under  the  lee  of  a  boulder,  and  there 
to  remain  until  morning.  It  was  clouding  up,  and  a  storm  was 
certain. 

The  General  did  not  favor  my  proposition,  so  onward  we 
trudged  through  brambles,  tumbling  over  rocks,  and  liable  at 
any  moment  to  receive  the  affectionate  embrace  of  a  bear,  or  the 
more  tender  and  emphatic  demonstration  of  some  one- of  the 
formidable  species  of  felines  known  to  inhabit  those  moun 
tain  resorts.  The  General  was  determined  to  find  the  horses, 
and  to  get  back  to  camp,  I  had  given  that  up  as  a  fruitless 
task.  At  all  events,  as  we  went  on  together,  I  took  occasion 
to  have  my  weapons  handy. 

Another  dash  brought  us  out  of  the  thicket.  It  was  now 
lighter.  The  moon  was  about  making  its  appearance,  and, 
having  cleared  the  shadow  of  the  mountain,  it  was  possible  to 
see  farther  than  a  nose's  length. 

But  about  the  horses  ?  The  gathering  clouds  portended  rain. 
In  hopes  of  hearing  an  occasional  neigh,  we  seated  ourselves 
on  an  isolated  rock.  We  listened  in  vain  for  any  disturbance  of 
the  still  air  that  might  point  out  the  direction  of  the  horses. 
Horses  brought  up  under  military  discipline,  it  was  apparent 
were  different  from  other  quadrupeds  of  the  same  species.  A 
half  hour  must  have  passed  absorbed  in  profound  deliberations 
over  our  situation,  broken  by  repeated  shouts  and  a  vigorous 
whistling.  But  no  response  from  the  horses.  They  certainly 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  261 

appreciated  the  virtue  of  patience.  Whatever  may  have  been 
the  promptings  of  instinct,  they  took  their  desertion  with  calm 
ness. 

"We  had  now  given  up  all  hopes  of  finding  the  horses  that 
night,  and  as  a  heavy  mist  began  driving  by  the  mountain,  we 
made  up  our  minds  to  endeavor  to  find  our  way  back  to  camp 
on  foot.     We  set  out  by  a  direct  course  into  the  gorge  where  we 
struck,  as  we  supposed,  a  tributary  of  the  stream  in  the  valley.    It 
now  commenced  raining  in  earnest,  and  again  grew  disagreeably 
dark.     Our  overcoats  were  strapped  to  our  saddles.    Following 
the  creek  for  some  distance,  frequently  getting  into  the  water, 
and  equally  as  often  falling  headlong  over  the  confused  mass 
of  rocks,  or  getting  fast  in  the  wild  vines  and  briars  which  grew 
along  its  bank,  we  came  out  on  the  plain.     This  was  at  least  a 
relief.    We  quickened  our  steps  until  we  reached  what  we  took 
to  be  the  main  stream.     We  had  pursued  this  but  a  short  dis 
tance,  when  we  were  assailed  by  an  array  of  Indian  dogs, 
which  having  discovered  us,  came  out  from  the  Comanche  vil 
lage  on  the  other  side.     The  canine  army  was  fortunately  par 
ticular  to  leave  the  stream  between  us.     The  danger  was  that 
they  might  arouse  the  warriors  of  the  village,  who  were  always 
ready  to  improve  such  a  favorable  opportunity  to  steal  a  scalp. 
Returning  up  the  stream  to  a  point  we  knew  by  the  location 
of  the  Indian  village,  must  be  within  hailing  distance  of  our 
camp,  we  set  up  a  few  shouts  which  were  promptly  responded 
to.     We  now  soon  had  the  pleasure  of  being  greeted  by  our 
companions.     The  major  and  his  horse  had  returned  but  a  few 
minutes  before.     After  demolishing  a  hearty  supper  of  wild 
turkey,  we  turned  in  to  enjoy  a  sound  slumber. 

The  next  morning  the  guide  went  up  the  mountain,  and  hav 
ing  trailed  the  horses  to  the  spot  where  we  had  left  them  the 
night  before,  returned  with  them  after  an  absence  of  several 
hours.  The  poor  animals  seemed  to  show  some  signs  of  satis 
faction  at  getting  back  to  camp.  A  double  feed,  out  of  the  scant 
supply  of  grain,  we  had  brought  with  us  soon  made  them  obliv 
ious  of  the  past. 


262  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

The  Witchita  mountains,  at  the  time  of  our  visit,  were  unex 
plored,  and  known  only  on  the  maps  by  location.  Within  their 
lonely  walls  was  an  unknown  region.  These  mountains  had 
always  been  known  to  be  a  favorite  resort  for  Indians,  as  a 
refuge  of  the  weaker  tribes  against  the  attacks  of  the  stronger. 
Here  numbers  were  of  no  avail.  Skill,  agility,  and  endurance, 
were  the  mi  in  requisites  of  defence.  According  to  Indian 
tradition,  many  terrible  encounters  had  taken  place  in  these  dark 
defiles.  The  bear,  the  panther,  the  wild-cat,  and  the  buffalo, 
made  their  haunts  within  its  sheltered  solitudes.  The  savage 
never,  except  when  driven  there. 

Mount  Scott  which  we  ascended  was  fourteen  hundred  feet 
in  height  It  was  the  eastern  abutment  of  the  range,  and  rising 
as  did  the  entire  chain,  immediately  out  of  a  vast  surrounding 
plain,  the  height  was  greatly  magnified.  Towards  the  west 
two  main  ranges  extended  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  The 
landscape  was  composed  of  bold  ridges,  great  piles  of  boulders, 
with  an  occasional  valley,  small  in  dimensions,  but  presenting 
a  beautiful  prospect. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  263 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

RAMBLES    AMONG    THE    WITCHITAS — A    HUNT    BY    MOONLIGHT — MR.    CARR — A 
HONET-TREE — RESEARCHES  OF  THE  VOLUNTEERS — A  RAT 
TLE-SNAKE  DEN — A  PROLIFIC  ARRAPAHOE. 

'HE  following  morning  we  saddled  up  as  soon  as  the 
9  horses  were  fed.  The  rain  of  the  previous  night  had 
ceased,  and  the  day  was  clear  and  bright.  The  atmos 
phere  fairly  sparkled  with  purity.  We  rode  deeper  into 
the  mountains,  the  Indian  guide  pointing  out  a  gorge 
through  which  we  could  get  around,  and  proceed  hack  to  camp 
by  a  different  route.  According  to  our  guide  all  the  mountain 
peaks  were  considered  sacred  by  the  Indians.  He  narrated 
some  miraculous  cures  accomplished  as  the  reward  of  a  toilsome 
journey  to  the  summit  of  Mount  Scott.  While,  in  early  days, 
all  went  there  to  prolong  life,  the  majority  found  it  a  place  of 
sepulture.  We  took  our  course  by  what  the  guide  called 
the  Caddo-trail.  It  had  evidently  not  been  recently  used, 
as  I  could  see  no  foot-prints  of  man  or  beast.  This  trail,  at  all 
events,  led  us  into  what  was  said  by  the  Indian  to  be  the  only 
pass  through  the  mountains  for  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  On 
our  way  we  passed  the  chain  of  beautiful  lakes  seen  from 
Mount  Scott.  They  were  surrounded  by  the  wildest  descrip 
tion  of  scenery.  Perpendicular  heights,  immense  trees,  with 
occasional  cascades  from  their  mountain  sources  pouring  over 
dizzy  heights  in  the  foaming  abyss  below.  We  saw  no  fish, 
though,  according  to  the  guide,  all  the  lakes  and  streams  abound 
in  beautiful  trout. 

As  we  rode  along  almost  every  moment  deer  and  antelope 
Started  with  terrified  expedition  from  their  haunts.     Wild  tur- 


264  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

keys  seemed  to  be  without  number.  One  drove,  which  we 
halted  to  watch  passing,  not  over  a  hundred  yards  distant, 
must  have  contained  three  hundred  birds.  At  the  summit  of  a 
bald  ridge,  about  five  miles  west  of  Mount  Scott,  we  halted  for 
a  half  hour  to  take  a  survey  of  the  surrounding  country.  On 
the  right  were  several  small  valleys,  in  one  of  which  we  saw  at 
a  distance  a  herd  of  beautiful  elk.  A  strong  temptation  it  was 
to  pursue. 

A  mountain,  twenty-three  degrees  north  of  west  of  Mount 
Scott,  distant  three  miles,  I  took  the  liberty  of  naming  Mount 
Sheridan,  after  the  Commanding  General.  It  was  by  all  means 
the  finest  mountain  of  the  range.  Its  north  face  was  a  clear 
perpendicular  height  of  eight  hundred  feet,  the  total  being 
twelve  hundred  feet.  Its  crest  was  composed  of  towering  shafts 
of  granite,  split  in  the  most  marvellous  manner,  resembling  the 
teeth  of  an  enormous  comb.  Across  a  narrow  gorge,  and  isolated 
from  the  main  mountain,  was  a  solitary  cone  of  solid  rock,  which 
stood  out  like  the  sentinel  of  the  mountains.  Our  Indian  guide, 
pointing  to  Mount  Sheridan,  said  that  was  the  father,  and  point 
ing  to  Mount  Scott,  that  the  eldest  brother.  This  aboriginal 
geology  is  not  authenticated  by  any  cotemporary  authority, 
though  tradition  would  make  it  appear  so.  The  mountain  lying 
in  the  same  line  of  direction  was  an  immense  mass  of  closely 
packed  boulders,  and  about  a  thousand  feet  high.  We  now 
turned  back,  resuming  the  Caddo-trail,  which  led  us  between 
Mount  Sheridan  and  the  detached  masses  of  Mount  Scott.  An 
hour's  ride  over  a  dark  and  lonely  path  we  reached  the  open 
spaces  on  the  other  side. 

The  number  of  tracks  of  all  sorts  of  savage  animals  was 
amazing.  A  fresh  bear  track  we  encountered  was  characterized 
by  one  of  those  sudden  explosive  sounds  on  the  part  of  our  In 
dian,  which  indicated  an  animal  of  prodigious  size.  We  found 
it  impossible  to  track  him,  and  being  without  a  dog  had  to  go  on. 

A  halt  of  an  hour  in  an  open  valley,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
range,  was  consumed  in  resting  and  feeding  the  animals,  after 
which  we  set  out  for  camp,  arriving  several  hours  after  dark. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  265 

The  more  prominent  peaks  of  the  Witchitas  I  was  told  were 
often  used  by  the  Indians  for  signaling.  Hazen  and  myself, 
during  our  presence  on  the  top  of  Mount  Scott,  set  fire  to  the 
dry  grass  and  branches  of  the  cedar  which  we  could  gather. 
In  a  very  short  time  the  entire  summit  was  in  a  blaze,  alarming 
the  Savages  for  miles  around.  They  seemed  to  interpret  it  as 
the  signal  of  a  fearful  state  of  strife. 

The  mountains  derived  their  name  from  the  Witchitas,  who 
are  admitted  by  the  Comanches  to  have  been  the  first  occupants 
of  the  country.  During  our  journey  we  saw  but  very  few  buf 
faloes,  when  the  traces  of  the  animal,  particularly  the  skulls, 
were  so  abundant  that  there  was  no  questioning  the  fact  that  not 
long  before  they  must  have  subsisted  in  these  luxuriant  valleys 
by  tens  of  thousands.  This,  the  guide  explained,  was  one  of  the 
consequences  of  the  war.  Such  a  thing  as  scarcity  never  hav 
ing  been  known  in  the  country  before. 

The  accounts  which*  we  had  brought  back  of  the  game  in  the 
mountains,  induced  the  Commanding  General  to  get  up  a  party 
of  his  own  a  few  days  after.  In  addition  to  the  General,  were 
Crosby,  Forsyth,  and  Asch,  of  the  staff,  Weir  and  Yates,  of 
the  seventh,  and  myself.  This  time  we  had  matters  arranged 
more  systematically,  taking  with  us  an  interpreter,  Indian 
guide,  cook,  three  orderlies,  six  scouts,  and  four  pack-mules. 
A  heavy  fog  prevailed  the  morning  we  started.  The  party 
become  scattered,  especially  the  pack-mule  with  the  rations  of 
the  party.  It  was  noon  before  we  got  together  again,  particu 
larly  the  rations.  The  orderlies  and  attendants  were  halted  on 
the  stream  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  while  the  General  and 
the  rest  of  the  party  undertook  the  ascent.  The  effort  this  time 
was  no  less  difficult  than  I  had  experienced  with  Hazen.  By 
the  time  we  had  reached  the  top,  the  whole  party  was  well 
blown.  At  least  an  hour  was  expended  in  studying  the  to 
pography  of  the  surrounding  country.  Before  leaving,  the 
contents  of  a  bottle  of  brandy  was  replaced  by  a  list  of  the 
names  of  the  party,  and  an  account  of  the  circumstances  of  our 
visit.  The  bottle  was  for  the  edification  of  some  future  enthu 


266  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

elastic  admirers  of  nature,  who  might  reach  that  elevated  station 
in  the  physical  world. 

After  admiring  the  scenery  sufficiently  for  all,  we  made  the 
descent  on  the  south  side  and  encountered  the  same  obstacles 
which  Hazen  and  I  had  met  with  in  our  descent  on  the  north. 
The  brambles  and  briers  turned  out  to  be  a  dense  growth  of 
blackberry  and  raspberrry  bushes,  strengthened  in  their  im 
penetrability  by  a  diminutive  variety  of  plum-tree.  From  the 
difficulty  we  experienced  in  getting  through  by  daylight,  I  was 
struck  with  amazement  when  I  reflected  upon  my  first  expe 
rience  in  the  darkness  of  night. 

By  the  time  we  reached  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  the  scouts 
had  selected  a  charming  site  for  a  camp,  and  had  spread  the 
tent- flies.  Several  fine  wild  turkeys  had  been  killed  and  greeted 
us  with  a.  savory  odor.  Our  journey  was  attended  by  one  mis 
fortune,  the  loss  of  the  General's  stag-hound.  Several  of  the 
scouts  made  a  fruitless  search  for  him.  With  the  loss  of  the 
hound,  half  of  the  sport  of  the  excursion  was  lost. 

After  the  moon  had  risen,  we  divided  up  into  parties  and  set 
out  from  camp  in  search  of  turkey  roosts.  All  the  game  had 
evidently  been  frightened  away  by  the  scouts  hunting  in  the 
afternoon.  After  wandering  over  the  country  several  hours  into 
the  night,  getting  but  a  few  shots,  and  meeting  with  all  sorts  of 
mishaps,  we  returned  with  an  evident  relish  for  a  smoking  sup 
per,  which  was  about  to  be  distributed  in  true  primitive  style. 

The  fatigues  of  the  day  soon  drove  all  to  the  blankets,  from 
which  it  was  with  great  reluctance,  before  daylight  the  next 
morning,  we  were  called,  by  the  orders  of  the  night  before,  to 
make  an  early  start. 

The  next  morning  we  rode  through  the  gorge  passing  under 
the  frowning  cliffs  of  Mount  Sheridan.  Our  particular  object 
in  taking  this  direction  was  a  bee-tree,  which  had  been  dis 
covered  a  few  days  before  by  an  old  frontier's  man,  who  had 
been  "  in  the  mountains  a  sarchin  bar,"  We  had  the  old  man 
with  us  to  point  out  the  tree. 

M'-ster  Qarr,  the  title  being  punctiliously  applied  on   all 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  267 

occasions,  had  joined  the  campaign  in  its  earliest  stages.  He 
was  over  sixty  years  of  age.  His  presence  in  the  army  was  an 
act  of  paternal  devotion  often  met  with  on  the  plains.  In  the 
massacre  on  the  Saline,  he  had  a  son  murdered,  consequently 
"he  just  joined  the  army  so  as  to  kill  a  few  red  ?kins  out  of 
revenge."  Mister  Carr  had  spent  his  whole  life  ou  die  frontier, 
moving  farther  west  as  civilization  advanced.  The  old  man 
was  strong  and  hearty,  and  had  a  certain  amount  of  the  finer 
qualities  of  human  nature,  which  made  him  an  agreeable  com 
panion  on  such  occasions.  As  far  as  killing  red  skins  was 
concerned,  in  the  battle  of  the  scouts,  on  the  Arrickaree  fork, 
he  did  his  share. 

The  honey-tree  being  reached,  Mister  Carr,  as  the  discoverer, 
by  courtesy,  was  entitled  to  the  superintendence  of  cutting  it 
down.  We  dismounted  in  the  timber,  and  allowing  our  ani 
mals  to  graze  about,  formed  an  anxious  group  to  observe  the 
chopping.  Mister  Carr,  not  satisfied  with  the  awkward  hack 
ing  of  a  couple  of  orderlies  put  at  the  work,  took  the  axe,  and 
with  a  broad,  familiar,  graceful  swing,  made  huge  pieces  of 
timber  fly  right  and  left,  clearing  a  space  of  respectful  dimen 
sions  around  the  tree.  In  a  few  moments  the  tree  began  to 
careen  over.  A  host  of  curious  bees,  anxious  to  learn  the  nature 
of  the  outside  demonstrations  upon  their  domicile,  were  buzzing 
around  the  knot-hole  aperture,  which  led  into  the  tree.  A  few 
of  the  more  courageous  of  the  formidable  little  insects,  made  a 
charge  upon  our  party,  causing  a  hasty  suspension  of  operations 
and  a  general  Stampede,  At  last  the  noble  tree  fell.  A  few 
well  directed  strokes  of  the  axe  penetrated  the  deceptive  exterior 
and  lay  open  a  huge  cavity.  A  mass  of  dried  comb  was  at 
first  exposed.  The  bees  had  already  devoured  the  inviting 
sweet.  Farther  down,  however,  we  reached  the  commissariat 
of  the  hive.  Innumerable  bees  were  hard  at  work  demolishing 
their  store,  when  interrupted  by  our  voracious  party. 

Every  person  helped  himself  freely  to  a  huge  cake,  and  perch 
ing  himself  on  an  adjacent  rock,  made  short  work  of  the  labors 
of  that  little  community  during  the  previous  summer.  On  ex- 


268  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

amining  the  tree,  the  claw  marks  of  bears  could  be  detected  on 
the  bark.  How  often  had  old  bruin  visited  that  tree,  and  suc 
ceeded  no  farther  than  to  smack  his  chops  at  the  entrance  to 
the  hive,  without  tasting  the  delicacies  within. 

While  seated  around  the  hive,  all  busily  eating,  our  Pene- 
teghtka  guide  perpetrated  the  best  bit  of  humor  I  had  heard  for 
many  days.  At  a  moment  when  laughter  and  shouts  had  ceased, 
the  Indian  looked  up  from  an  immense  piece  of  comb  he  held 
before  him,  and  with  one  of  the  drollest  expressions  said  "Bueno, 
you  all  Peneteghtkas."  "Good  1  Good  !! "  was  the  unanimous 
rejoinder.  Pencteghtkas  the  name  of  his  band  meant  "  Honey- 
eaters,"  The  Indian,  not  thinking  he  had  said  anything  very 
witty,  in  a  most  serious  manner  returned  to  his  honey.  If  his 
band  got  their  name  from  a  fondness  for  eating  honey,  Essatoyeh 
certainly  did  justice  to  his  people. 

Having  eaten  to  satiety,  the  remainder  of  the  honey  was  put 
into  a  large  kettle  to  take  into  camp.  We  now  remounted  and 
resumed  our  journey,  following  the  romantic  banks  of  Wild 
Horse  creek.  The  country  over  which  we  passed,  presented 
beautiful  landscapes  in  constant  succession.  In  several  of  the 
rivulets  tributary  to  the  stream,  wild  celery  and  watercress 
were  found  in  large  quantities.  We  halted  for  some  minutes 
to  gather  a  supply  for  our  table. 

It  was  dark  before  our  party  again  reached  the  encampment. 
Our  excursion  had  been  full  of  novelty  in  the  discovery  of  new 
scenery,  but  in  the  products  of  chase,  it  was  anything  but  a 
success.  At  headquarters  our  first  greeting  was  from  the  gene 
ral's  hound,  he  having  returned  to  camp  that  morning. 

The  necessary  inactivity  of  the  army,  was  a  burden  to  the 
free  spirits,  which  composed  at  least  one  half  of  its  number. 
The  volunteers  made  up  of  men,  who  had  always  been  accus 
tomed  to  leading  a  sort  of  roving  life  upon  their  native  prairies, 
since  the  army  reach  Medicine  bluff,  had  passed  much  of  their 
time  in  hunting  or  wandering  about  within  a  circuit  of  twelve 
or  fifteen  miles.  A  few  of  these  men  tired  of  the  campaign,  or 
its  delays,  took  occasion  to  wander  beyond  the  limit  prescribed, 


ON   THE   BORDERS. 

and  not  being  seen  again,  it  was  supposed  undertook  the  haz 
ardous  and  toilsome  journey  of  reaching  the  settlements,  trusting 
to  their  rifle  for  sustenance,  to  instinct  as  a  guide,  across  those 
interminable  intervening  plains,  and  to  chance  for  eluding  any 
prowling  band  of  savages  who  might  feel  an  inclination  to  "lift 
their  hair." 

In  the  absence  of  other  excitement  the  volunteers  pryed  into 
every  nook  and  corner  in  all  the  country'  round,  and  frequently 
discovered  marvelous  things.  Among  these  was  a  rattlesnake 
den. 

One  afternoon  early  in  February,  in  company  with  several 
of  the  officers  at  headquarters,  I  visited  this  latest  wonder.  At 
the  base  of  the  cliff,  opposite  the  most  lofty  portion  of  Medicine 
bluff,  reached  only  by  a  narrow  and  dangerous  ledge,  sometimes 
but  six  inches  in  width,  leading  down  to  the  water's  brink,  was 
an  opening  underlying  the  large  masses  of  superincumbent  rock. 
The  crevice  ran  horizontally,  being  about  twelve  feet,  and  in 
height  or  width  about  twelve  inches.  At  one  end  was  an  elon 
gated  opening  of  about  two  feet.  In  front  was  an  immense 
barren  rock  which  extended  to  the  water.  Farther  down  was 
a  small  space  of  soil  covered  with  grass.  The  cliff  here  had  a 
slight  concavity,  the  extremities  abutting  abruptly  upon  the 
water.  The  space  thus  cut  off  from  all  access,  except  by  water 
or  the  ledge  already  mentioned,  did  not  cover  an  area  of  over 
fifty  feet  in  length,  and  at  its  widest  part  six  feet.  The  cliff 
rose  fully  a  hundred  feet  above.  What  inducement  could  ever 
have  tempted  any  one  to  make  this  perilous  descent,  in  the  first 
instance,  was  a  mystery  to  me.  It  was  with  extreme  difficulty, 
having  first  climbed  down  a  scraggy  cedar,  which  obstructed 
the  upper  end  of  the  ledge  that  I  could  make  it.  I  managed 
it  only  by  getting  down  all  fours,  sometimes  lying  flat  out 
and  by  degrees  working  down.  But  one  of  my  companions 
followed. 

The  space  below  was  covered  with  a  sickening  spectacle.  A 
mass  of  enormous  "  diamond  "  rattlesnakes  were  lying  about  in 
all  states  of  mutilation.  Some  were  without  heads.  All  with- 


270  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

out  tails.  The  largest  and  in  fact  the  majority  were  completely 
skinned.  As  I  learned  afterwards  the  hideous  skins  were  used 
by  the  "  Kansas  boys  "  for  belts.  The  skins  and  rattles  were 
also  considered  as  possessing  mysterious  medicinal  agencies. 
It  was  rather  appaling  to  be  in  the  midst  of  such  a  population 
of  the  most  dreaded  and  venomous  reptile  of  the  plains,  even 
though  lifeless.  My  imagination  would  sometimes  invest  the 
horrid  mass  with  motion.  The  effect  was  startling.  I  invaria 
bly  felt  a  proclivity  to  get  on  the  high  ground  overhead. 

Several  of  the  largest  of  these  reptiles,  poked  out  and  laid 
at  full  length,  measured  not  less  than  eight  feet  from  head  to 
tail — that  is,  what  was  left  of  those  extremities — and,  at  the 
thickest  part,  were  six  inches  in  diameter.  It  may  be  imagined 
what  a  sight  a  knitted  mass  of  raw,  purplish  flesh,  and  of  such 
shapes,  must  have  presented.  The  main  pile  of  defunct  reptiles 
would  have  made  a  cart-load,  and,  besides,  the  rocks  and  crags 
had  also  been  elaborately  decorated  by  the  "  boys." 

The  space  leading  to  the  den  had  the  appearance  of  having 
been  the  scene  of  hibernation  of  the  snake  family  for  centuries. 
The  hard  rock  was  worn  and  slimy.  When  these  indications 
of  some  sort  of  creature  making  the  den  its  abode  were  dis 
covered,  the  adventurous  explorers  secured  a  long  pole.  While 
one  was  poling  up  the  unknown  occupants  within,  the  others 
stood  around  the  entrance  with  pistols  and  carbines  loaded 
ready  to  greet  the  first  appearance  of  the  denizens,  whatever 
they  might  be,  of  that  inaccessible  abode.  After  a  few  minutes 
poking,  a  huge  old  monster  of  a  rattle-snake,  which  seemed  to 
be  the  patriarch  of  the  community,  crawled  out  in  a  semi-torpid 
condition. 

His  snakeship  was  promptly  dispatched,  and  his  enormous 
length  drawn  out  of  the  den.  Not  supposing  that  this  was  the 
rightful  possessor  of  the  premises,  a  little  more  lively  poking 
brought  to  light  a  few  more  offended  monsters,  which  were 
likewise  dispatched.  The  business,  according  to  these  invaders 
-of  the  snake  dominions,  now  became  quite  lively.  The  snakes 
on  top,  exposed  to  the  rather  chill  atmosphere  of  the  den, 


IN  THE   BORDERS.  271 

dragged  themselves  along  slowly.  Those  that  came  after, 
were  a  little  more  active,  and  kept  the  besiegers  quite  busily 
employed. 

Over  two  hundred  snakes  were  thus  drawn  from  their  com 
fortable  quarters  and  promptly  dispatched.  I  saw,  at  the  time 
of  my  visit,  the  remains  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight.  A 
number  had  been  thrown  into  the  stream,  and  not  a  few  had 
been  packed  off  to  camp  by  the  discoverers,  as  trophies  of  the 
engagement.  Subsequent  visitors  also  carried  off  a  snake  or 
two  as  a  souvenir. 

From  the  old  plains  men  I  learned  that,  in  autumn,  these 
reptiles  gravitate,  instinctively,  towards  some  spot  where  they 
hibernate  in  large  masses.  This  fact  simply,  however,  was  not 
as  remarkable  as  to  find  them  in  such  a  place  as  the  den  in  the 
cliff.  It  seemed  beyond  comprehension,  that  the  snake  should 
visit  a  particular  spot  to  winter,  and  that  by  water.  Yet  such 
appeared  to  be  the  fact. 

An  old  Kiowa  medicine  man,  speaking  about  the  den,  said 
that  many  years  before  an  Arrapahoe  chief  was  old  and  about 
to  die.  He  wandered  over  the  bluff,  and  finding  this  den,  en 
tered  it,  and  was  never  seen  again  in  human  form ;  but  every 
spring  great  numbers  of  terrible  snakes  came  out  and  scattered 
over  the  country.  According  to  his  explanation,  the  Arrapahoe 
tradition  declares  that  this  old  warrior  turned  into  a  snake,  and 
became  the  father  of  all  the  snakes  in  the  country — a  large 
and  interesting  progeny  indeed.  The  medicine  man,  when 
asked  whether  there  were  many  snakes,  opened  his  eyes  and 
mouth  in  a  most  fearful  manner,  exclaiming  "Heaps,  heaps  I 
Big,  so  1" — holding  his  long  arms  out  at  full  length,  indicating 
the  different  sizes,  and  then  seizing  his  thighs  to  show  their 
diameter. 

We  returned  to  camp  with  wonderful  stories  of  the  day's 
adventures.  For  my  part,  the  same  night  wriggling  fabrics 
resembling  serpents,  and  monsters  generally,  formed  the  dis 
turbing  visions  of  my  dreams. 


272  SHERIDAN'S  TROOJ'KRS 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

CLOSING   EVENTS— THE  TRIBES  COERCED   INTO   OBEDIENCE— A   DEPUTATION — A* 
INDIAN  COUNCIL— AN  ELK  HUNT — AN  INDIAN  LOVE  AFFAIR. 

LTHOUGH  by  February  all  the  wild  tribes  had  sent 
in  their  representatives,  promising  submission,  the 
tribes  themselves  were  slow  to  fulfil.  The  Arrapa- 
hoes  of  Little  Raven's  band,  who  had  made  the  bold- 
dest  professions,  had  been  loitering  at  a  distance  for 
several  weeks.  When  their  men  vi;  iting  our  camp  were  inter 
rogated  why  their  people  were  so  slow,  the  invariable  answer 
was,  the  weather,  and  forlorn  condition  of  their  animals.  It  was 
quite  apparent  that  this  high-spirited  band  reluctantly  yielded 
to  an  imperious  necessity.  The  war  had  driven  off  the  game ; 
they,  therefore,  had  but  to  starve  or  surrender.  Their  dogs 
had  been  consumed,  and  horse-flesh  had  even  been  resorted  to 
in  their  extremity.  Their  ponies  found  difficulty  in  traveling. 
Surrounding  them  were  interminable  plains,  now  destitute  of  ani 
mal  life.  The  Commanding  General  naturally  supposed  the  Arra- 
pahoes  were  playing  the  shrewd  part  of  diplomacy.  This  band 
was  evidently  desirous  of  awaiting  the  opening  of  spring,  and 
then  quietly  to  disappear,  join  the  Oheyennes,  and  once  more, 
with  sustenance  for  their  ponies,  resume  the  war-path. 

The  General  was  not  to  be  thus  gulled.  Having  exhausted 
his  patience  in  waiting,  Colonel  Wier  was  directed  to  organize 
a  squadron  of  picked  men  and  horses,  to  move  out  suddenly,  and 
compel  the  Arrapahoes  to  come  in.  The  weather  was  suitable 
for  the  expedition,  as  the  then  recent  rains  would  prevent  the 
flight  of  the  savages.  His  men  and  animals,  though  worn  from 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  273 

the  effects  of  the  campaign,  moved  out,  as  if  enjoying 
the  relief  from  the  monotony  of  camp-life.  In  the  direction 
pointed  out  by  the  Indian  runners,  the  column  proceeded, 
and  after  a  ride,  of  thirty-five  miles,  struck  the  Arrapahoe 
camp.  The  savages  were  surprised.  The  chief,  Little  Raven, 
came  out  to  meet  the  troops.  He  made  excuses  arid  asked 
time.  He  was  informed  that  he  had  had  time  enough.  He 
must  get  ready  to  march  in  the  next  morning,  or  the  camp 
would  be  destroyed,  his  people  taken  prisoners  and  punished. 
The  Colonel  having  taken  the  precaution  to  surround  the  village, 
there  was  no  chance  of  escape.  The  same  night  a  council  was 
held,  when  the  diplomatic  savage  warriors  very  discreetly 
resolved  thei  wisest  thing  they  could  do  would  be  to  accompany 
the  soldiers  to  their  camp. 

Having  received  information  that  Wier  was  near  at  hand 
with  his  charge,  I  rode  out  with  a  party  of  officers  a  distance 
of  five  or  six  miles  in  the  direction  of  the  approaching  village. 
The  village  consisted  of  sixty  lodges,  and  was  strung  out  over 
a  distance  of  a  mile,  and  scattered  over  a  width  of  fifty  yards. 
The  squaws,  and  papooses,  male  and  female,  old  enough,  drove 
the  laden  animals.  The  warriors  formed  the  advance  and 
rear  guard,  and  a  chain  of  flankers  stood  as  sentinels  on  hills 
along  the  route.  The  women  were  chatting  as  if  pleased  at 
their  relief.  The  warriors  were  sullen  and  downcast. 

The  moving  village  was  halted,  and  planted  in  a  sheltered 
spot,  selected  for  its  contiguity  to  our  camps,  so  that  this  sus 
pected  community  might  be  watched.  Little  Raven,  the  chief 
of  this  branch  of  the  Arrapahoes,  I  found  to  be  a  remarkably 
intelligent  Indian.  He  was  rather  stout,  about  fifty  years  of 
age,  having  the  appearance  of  one  who  lived  well  and  took  the 
world  calmly. 

As  soon  as  he  had  pointed  out  the  place  for  his  lodge,  and 
had  given  some  instructions  to  his  people,  he  rode  to  head 
quarters,  where  he  made  some  explanation  of  his  conduct. 
Rather  a  bitter  task  for  the  independent  spirit  which  struggled 

within  his  breast. 

18 


274  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

While  watching  the  erection  of  the  lodges,  and  the  domestic 
details  of  the  village,  my  attention  was  called  to  a  young  Jad 
of  about  twelve  years  of  age.  I  was  told  that  he  had  been 
captured  when  but  an  infant  by  a  column  of  troops,  and  had 
passed  some  years  subsequent  to  that  time  at  an  educational 
institution  in  St.  Louis.  I  made  several  attempts  to  induce 
him  to  converse,  but  all  overtures  he  persistently  refused.  He 
leaned  against  a  fallen  tree,  and  wore  a  most  rigid  expres 
sion.  He  comprehended  the  questions  put  to  him,  but,  with 
the  exception  of  an  odd  word,  and  an  affirmative  or  negative 
shake  of  the  head,  he  might  have  been  a  stone,  for  all  that  he 
would  say. 

It  occurred  to  me  that  he  feared  to  say  anything  on  account 
of  the  warriors  who  were  standing  around,  and  who  might  have 
imagined  that  he  was  communicating  intelligence  of  the  tribes. 
The  child  drooped  and  pined  away  when  taken  from  his  native 
plains.  He  longed  to  be  among  his  wild  kindred ;  a  wish  after 
wards  granted.  Like  the  buffalo,  take  him  from  the  boundless 
freedom  of  his  native  state,  and  the  red  man  sinks  into  a  pre 
mature  grave. 

Ouster  set  out  in  the  latter  part  of  January  with  a  small 
escort  to  visit  the  Cheyennes  and  main  camps  of  the  Ar- 
rapahoes,  as  it  was  supposed,  on  the  head-waters  of  the  Red. 
Arriving  in  that  vicinity,  it  was  believed,  more  than  ever,  that 
the  savages  were  anxious  to  protract  their  absence  until  spring. 
Although  signs  of  their  recent  presence  were  visible,  the  tribes 
themselves  could  not  be  found.  The  expedition  having  been 
absent  two  weeks,  and  being  out  of  supplies,  returned. 

Notwithstanding  the  peculiar  conduct  of  the  savages  that 
had  not  yielded  submission,  it  was  certain  that  they  were  in 
no  condition  to  assume  the  offensive  were  they  so  disposed, 
and  it  would  be  well  into  summer  before  their  animals  would 
have  sufficiently  recruited  to  respond  to  the  exertions  of  a 
fresh  outbreak.  These  considerations  admitted  of  a  possibility 
of  the  tribes  in  question  carrying  out  their  professions  of  com 
ing  in  as  soon  as  their  forlorn  condition  would  admit. 


ON  THE   BORDERS.      .  275 

From  the  Arrapahoes  it  was  learned  that  the  tribes  still  out 
were  in  a  condition  of  lively  alarm.  The  success  of  Evans' 
column,  and  the  presence  of  Carr,  in  addition  to  our  own  troops, 
had  satisfied  them  of  the  futility  of  further  opposition.  At 
the  time  Ouster  set  out,  his  movement  was  communicated  by 
the  Cheyenne  and  Arrapahoe  videttes.  The  two  tribes  took 
to  their  heels,  fearing  the  object  of  the  expedition  was  of  a  hos 
tile  character.  Having  fled  towards  the  Red  river,  they  fol 
lowed  for  some  miles  the  bed  of  the  stream,  so  that  all  traces 
of  the  direction  of  their  flight  would  be  effaced  upon  the  first 
flood.  This  flight  led  to  a  division  in  the  Arrapahoe  camp,  which 
resulted,  as  we  have  seen,  in  the  surrender  of  Little  Raven's 
band. 

As  far  as  the  savages  were  concerned,  every  day  made  it 
more  evident  that  they  had  received  more  than  they  expected 
when  they  undertook  the  war.  Fresh  deputations  of  warriors 
had  arrived  to  renew  their  professions  of  peace. 

The  Commanding  General,  willing  to  test  the  professions  of 
the  savages,  towards  the  middle  of  February  released  Satanta 
and  Lone  Wolf,  of  the  Kiowas,  from  their  two  months'  lodg 
ing  at  the  government  expense.  He  also  agreed  to  hold  a 
talk  with  the  chiefs  of  all  the  tribes. 

On  a  bright  afternoon  in  February,  about  fifty  warriors,  with 
all  their  trappings,  in  a  semicircle,  seated  themselves  in  front  of 
headquarters  for  the  Great  White  Chief  to  talk.  The  head 
orator  occupied  the  centre.  He  was  dressed  in  great  state, 
wearing  a  brigadier  general's  coat  and  a  sabre.  Before  the 
council  met,  he  strutted  about  in  his  bare  legs  with  an  air  of 
great  importance,  calling  attention  every  now  and  then  to  the 
fact  that  he  was  a  big  chief;  in  evidence  of  which  he  pointed 
to  his  shoulder-straps  and  brass  buttons. 

The  General  came  out  and  made  his  first  speech.  He  told 
the  warriors,  in  substance,  that  he  had  come  from  his  home, 
where  soldiers  were  like  the  trees  of  the  forests,  so  great  in 
numbers,  to  punish  the  red  man  for  murdering  white  men, 
women,  and  children.  That  he  was  willing  to  let  the  past  be 


276  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

buried ;  but  if  the  red  man  must  have  war,  he  could  give  it  to 
him  as  long  as  there  was  a  warrior  left.  But  it  made  the  Great 
Spirit  sad  to  see  his  children  fighting  among  themselves.  That 
the  same  Great  Spirit  ruled  over  all,  and  he  liked  to  see 
peace. 

The  warriors,  in  turn,  got  up  as  they  felt  the  impulse  move 
them.  They  spoke  of  their  lands  and  of  their  vanishing  race. 
They  wanted  peace,  because  after  war  they  were  weak,  like  a 
feeble  old  man  ready  to  die.  They  were  willing  to  lay  down 
the  hatchet,  and  do  as  the  great  Washington  (the  President) 
wished  his  good  children  to  do. 

The  manner  of  some  of  the  orators  was  very  striking.  Tall 
and  majestic  in  figure,  with  an  air  of  boundless  freedom,  a 
grace  of  gesture,  a  flexibility  of  intonation,  and  harmony  of 
expression,  these  savage  warriors  were  the  embodiment  of  dig 
nity  and  elocutionary  effect.  After  the  speaking,  which  was 
done  through  an  interpreter,  the  warriors  one  by  one  arose,  and 
shook  the  General  vigorously  by  the  hand,  exclaiming  emphati 
cally,  "  How!  How!" 

The  final  scenes  of  the  war  were  drawing  on ;  but  it  was 
still  necessary  to  make  a  movement  towards  the  laggard  tribes, 
to  let  them  see  that  the  "  white  soldiers  "  were  still  able  to  fight. 
Such  a  contrast  with  their  own  forlorn  condition  could  not  fail 
to  have  a  powerful  effect.  It  would  explode  forever  in  the 
savage  mind  their  belief  in  the  impenetrability  of  their  limitless 
plains  during  the  pitiless  and  stormy  period  of  winter.  The 
hardships  of  the  campaign,  the  terrors  of  the  freezing  weather, 
and  the  infinitely  more  trying  rains  which  had  now  set  in,  had 
already  told  severely  on  the  troops  and  animals.  Worse  than 
all,  the  arrival  of  supplies  was  delayed  to  such  a  degree  that 
matters  were  looking  serious.  A  large  number  of  animals  had 
died,  and  a  larger  number  were  barely  able  to  keep  their  feet. 
The  troopers,  however,  were  unusually  healthy.  A  few  cases 
of  scurvy,  only  two  of  which  assumed  a  serious  form,  and  some 
colds,  were  the  substance  of  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  com 
mand.  Still,  the  Commanding  General  was  resolved  upon  a 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  277 

move.  While  these  matters  were  being  discussed,  Colonel 
Audenried,  aid-de-camp  to  the  then  Lieutenant  General,  arrived 
at  headquarters  on  a  tour  of  inspection. 

As  it  was  probable  in  a  few  days  we  would  break  camp, 
Hazen,  Audenried,  and  myself  planned  an  elk  hunt.  This 
would  close  my  own  adventures  in  that  wild  country.  One 
morning  in  February,  therefore,  we  set  out  with  an  Indian 
guide,  an  orderly,  and  camping  arrangements.  About  the  mid 
dle  of  the  afternoon  we  spread  our  tent  fly  on  a  beautiful  stream, 
a  tributary  of  west  Cache  creek,  near  the  southern  foot  of  Mount 
Sheridan.  The  camp  was  peculiarly  picturesque.  Lofty 
mountains  and  bold  crags  towered  about  us.  The  valley  was 
covered  with  giant  trees. 

It  was  proposed,  as  we  had  several  hours  before  night,  to 
make  the  ascent  of  Mount  Sheridan.  Leaving  our  orderly  to 
look  after  the  camp,  we  set  out  on  our  journey.  The  Indian 
accompanied  us  for  a  short  distance,  and  then  set  out  to  beat  up 
game.  Our  route  lay  first  through  a  dark  forest,  from  which 
we  (merged  upon  an  open  space,  leading  towards  an  acces 
sible  place  of  ascent.  The  higher  we  got  the  more  difficult 
became  our  task ;  until,  the  last  few  hundred  feet,  we  were 
obliged  to  crawl  from  crevice  to  crag  up  a  perpendicular  wall. 
The  feat  was  accomplished,  but,  looking  back,  it  was  sufficient 
to  astonish  our  courage  in  undertaking  so  dangerous  an  exploit. 

Crossing  the  summit  from  the  comb  of  the  mountain,  and  look 
ing  over  the  trembling  height,  the  view  was  the  finest  I  had  yet 
seen.  The  streams  and  groves  were  portrayed  in  delicate 
miniature.  The  position  of  the  mountain  also  afforded  a  view 
up  the  long  line  of  passes  and  valleys  between  the  ranges  as 
far  as  they  extended.  Through  a  glass,  Mount  Webster,  at  the 
western  end,  could  be  distinctly  seen, 

I  never  was  better  repaid  for  a  journey  than  upon  the  occa 
sion  of  this  visit,  and  I  felt  better  satisfied  than  ever  that  the 
mountain  was  worthy  of  the  name  and  great  deeds  of  Sheridan, 
and  particularly  to  commemorate  the  success  of  THE  WINTER 

CAMPAIGN  ON  THE  PLAINS, 


278  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

Out  of  the  dry  grass  and  dead  branches  of  scraggy  cedars  grow 
ing  among  the  rocks  we  made  an  immense  fire.  A  few  minutes 
after  our  return  to  camp  the  Indian  came  in  with  the  hides  of 
two  splendU  cow  elks,  the  carcasses  he  having  put  in  a  tree 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  wolves.  A  good  supper,  prepared  for 
us  by  the  orderly,  was  readily  disposed  of.  After  a  social 
smoke,  and  planning  a  hunt  for  the  next  morning,  we  "  turned 
in,"  much  fatigued  from  the  day's  excursions. 

At  daylight,  the  Colonel,  accompanied  by  the  Indian,  set  out 
in  advance.  An  hour  later,  the  General  and  myself  followed. 
A  walk  of  a  short  distance  brought  us  to  a  beautiful  valley, 
completely  surrounded  by  hills.  Everywhere  traces  of  elk  and 
deer  were  visible.  Owing  to  this  fact,  we  gave  the  place  the 
name  Elk  Valley.  The  sun  had  just  risen.  The  dews  of  the 
morning  sparkled  on  the  plain  ;  a  thin  veil  of  mist  swept  by 
the  loftier  mountains.  A  beautiful  stream  ran  in  winding 
course  across  the  valley.  The  Indian  trail  wound  through 
rocks  and  wood  towards  the  mountain  passes. 

While  standing  upon  the  summit  of  a  low  hill  commanding  a 
fine  prospect  across  the  valley,  my  attention  was  attracted  by 
the.  General  shouting.  Considerably  surprised  at  his  enthu 
siasm,  I  brought  down  my  rifle,  not  knowing  but  that  we  had 
fallen  among  savages. 

It  was  but  a  moment,  however,  when  I  saw  less  than  sixty 
yards  before  me  a  majestic  elk  staring  directly  at  me.  While 
struggling  through  the  thick  under-brush,  having  withdrawn 
the  cartridge  from  the  chamber  of  my  rifle,  I  drew  the  piece  up 
and  pulled  the  trigger.  No  detonations  responding,  I  tried 
again.  Again  the  rifle  refused  to  fire.  This  time  cocking  the 
piece,  I  brought  up  a  third  time;  once  more  it  missed.  All 
this  time  the  elk  stood  with  his  large,  beautiful  eyes  fixed  upon 
me.  My  motions  must  have  excited  his  curiosity  the  more. 
Having  sufficiently  recovered,  I  rammed  a  cartridge  into  the 
chamber.  But  having  witnessed  all  this  preliminary  stupidity, 
the  elk  was  satisfied,  and  bounded  off.  Before  the  animal  was 
a  hundred  yards  distant,  I  sent  a  bullet  after  him.  It  was  a 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  279 

good  shot.  The  animal  flourished  his  white  tail,  suddenly 
changed  his  course,  at  the  same  time  quickening  his  graceful 
gallop.  The  old  adage,  "  make  haste  slowly,"  never  was  more 
perfectly  illustrated.  It  struck  me  that  it  was  a  mild  type  of 
"  Buck  fever." 

We  now  set;  out,  under  cover  of  the  hill,  to  intercept  the 
animal,  on  the  way  getting  a  shot  at  a  deer  at  close  range. 
By  the  time  we  came  in  sight  the  elk  was  still  bounding  away  in 
the  dim  distance.  The  deer  was  wounded,  but  not  fatally,  and 
hobbled  off. 

While  the  General  and  I  were  wandering  about  without  any 
very  definite  ideas  of  what  we  were  hunting,  but  acting  under 
the  general  principle  of  taking  a  shot  at  everything  that  came 
within  range,  the  Colonel  and  the  Indian,  who  were  mounted, 
were  galloping  rapidly  across  the  valley  after  a  herd  of  four 
teen  elks  which  they  had  started.  The  herd  had  headed  to 
wards  a  gorge  in  the  mountain.  The  hunters  were  close  after. 
Reaching  a  wood,  the  Indian  jumped  from  his  horse  and  started 
into  the  timber  on  foot.  A  few  minutes  after,  a  shot  was  heard 
echoing  among  the  mountain  walls.  A  fine  buck  responded  to 
the  messenger  of  death.  The  Indian  having  succeeded  in 
turning  the  herd,  as  it  again  emerged  from  the  wood,  the  Colonel, 
who  was  lying  in  wait,  made  a  fine  running  shot  and  bagged 
his  game. 

Towards  mid-day  we  returned  to  our  camp.  Preparations 
had  already  been  made  for  a  hasty  departure  homeward.  On 
the  way,  several  herds  of  elk  and  a  few  deer  were  started.  A 
few  long-range  shots  from  horseback  were  made,  but  had  no 
other  effect  than  to  expedite  the  movements  of  the  timid  fugi 
tives.  We  reached  headquarters  before  sundown,  with  goodly 
quantities  of  elk  meat  and  the  hides  of  the  animals  killed  as 
trophies  of  our  success. 

A  few  days  after  the  release  of  Satauta,  the  village  of  the 
Kiowas  was  thrown  into  confusion  by  a  domestic  scene.  The 
hero  was  the  son  of  the  wily  chief,  a  youth  of  more  than  ordi 
nary  manliness  of  face  and  figure,  and  the  pride  of  the  nation, 


280  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

in  the  daring  he  had  already  displayed  in  the  chase  or  the  war 
path.  The  young  warrior  was  enamored  of  the  squaw  of  one 
of  the  chief  warriors.  His  attentions  were  not  liked  by  the 
warrior,  and,  out  of  fear  of  receiving  a  severe  flogging,  were 
shunned  by  the  squaw.  The  young  chief,  knowing  his  passion 
was  reciprocated,  continued  his  advances,  often  fearlessly  con 
fronting  the  husband,  to  the  imminent  danger  of  a  conflict.  At 
last  the  affair  culminated  in  a  most  singular  way.  The  young 
warrior,  approaching  the  lodge,  entered  into  a  verbal  controversy 
with  the  husband.  The  squaw,  alarmed,  fled  towards  the  lodge 
of  the  young  warrior's  father.  Young  Satauta  seeing  this,  set 
out  in  pursuit,  while  the  husband  brought  up  the  rear.  As 
they  were  crossing  the  village,  the  mother  of  the  youth  inter 
cepted  him.  She  called  him  a  "fool."  The  young  warrior, 
stirred  to  the  quick,  drew  his  pistol,  but,  strange  to  say,  dis 
charged  the  contents  into  his  own  body.  He  reeled  and  fell, 
but  was  not  mortally  wounded.  Hearing  the  report  of  the 
weapon,  the  warriors  rallied  in  a  flash.  The  whole  village,  in 
a  few  moments,  was  a  scene  of  uproar  and  lamentation.  The 
young  warrior  was  removed  to  a  lodge  set  apart  for  him.  The 
medicine  men  were  called.  Satanta  performed  those  usual  acts 
of  medicinal  liberality,  such  as  making  presents  of  lodges  and 
ponies  promiscuously,  to  invite  the  kind  interposition  of  the 
Great  Spirit  as  a  response  to  his  generosity.  Three  medicine 
men  were  employed  to  exorcise  the  spirits  of  evil.  Drumming 
and  shouting  and  pow-wowing  were  kept  up  without  intermis 
sion  for  hours,  to  drive  out  the  bullet  and  keep  away  the  spirit 
of  death. 

Satanta,  the  father,  the  morning  after  the  occurrence,  visited 
headquarters  and  told  what  had  befallen  his  son.  The  General 
offered  the  services  of  his  surgeon.  The  old  chief  replied: 
' '  No ;  the  red  man's  medicine  man  must  try  first ;  then  the 
white  man's.  If  white  man  first,  then  medicine  man  say,  if 
die,  bad  medicine.  Our  medicine  man  no  good.  White  man 
much  good."  Satanta  evidently  did  not  have  much  faith  in  the 
boisterous  and  pretentious  doctors  of  his  own  race,  but  diplo- 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  281 

matically  preferred  letting  his  own  people  try  as  a  recognition 
of  their  native  prejudices.  The  boy  afterwards  recovered,  with 
the  assistance  of  the  white  man's  medicine. 

The  savage  bands,  having  become  settled  under  control  of 
the  troops,  the  Commanding  General  found  himself  besieged  on 
all  sides  by  a  new  enemy — a  number  of  Texans,  who  had  per 
formed  journeys  of  several  hundred  miles  in  hopes  of  recovering 
horses  which  had  been  stolen  from  them  during  the  raids  of  the 
savages  within  their  borders.  This  was  a  knotty  question  for 
adjudication,  and  was  likely  to  excite  afresh,  or  at  least  to 
kindle,  a  feeling  of  dissatisfaction.  There  was  another  question 
which  had  to  be  considered.  These  invaders,  not,  by  any 
means,  the  best  part  of  the  population  of  Texas,  were  claimant 
and  witness  at  the  same  time.  The  Indians  soon  discovered 
the  object  of  the  presence  of  these  strangers.  After  considera 
ble  talk  and  bad  humor,  the  Indians  gave  up  a  few  of  the  horses, 
and  were  informed,  should  they  ever  go  on  any  more  raids, 
they  would  be  compelled  by  force  to  give  them  all  up.  Those 
Texans  who  had  arrived  having  received  their  horses,  orders 
were  issued  prohibiting  any  one,  without  permission,  from 
coming  into  the  Territory  west  of  Fort  Arbuckle.  No  more 
equine  questions  were  brought  up. 


282  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPER 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS.' 

EFORE  bringing  this  narrative  to  a  close;  I  desire  to 
incorporate  a  few  facts  and  reflections  concerning  the 
past  and  the  future  of  the  American  Indian.  It  was 
natural  that  the  presence,  and  particularly  the  aggres 
sive  spirit  of  the  early  settlers,  should  inspire  in  the 
breasts  of  the  primitive  dwellers  upon  the  American  continent 
a  feeling  of  suspicion,  uneasiness,  and  hostility.  Occurrences 
so  visibly  opposed  to  their  interests  and  safety,  were  calculated 
to  effect  the  results  which  followed,  involving  upon  the  one 
hand  a  conflict  for  the  perpetuation  of  race,  and  the  preserva 
tion  of  tribal  hunting-grounds,  upon  the  other  territorial  acquisi 
tions,  to  make  way  for  the  building  up  of  a  new  and  modern 
civilization,  in  the  wilds  of  a  new  world.  Over  three  centuries 
have  elapsed.  This  has  been  a  period  of  bloody,  and  desperate 
wars,  and  horrible  atrocities.  Whether  the  savage  is  to  blame 
for  his  natural  aversion  to  civilized  habits,  and  the  sanguinary 
part  he  has  acted,  or  whether  the  superior  white  race  is  open 
to  censure  for  the  means  too  often  resorted  to  for  the  acquisition 
of  the  vast  territory  to-day  under  its  control,  is  a  question  now 
too  late  for  consideration.  What  remains  of  this  aboriginal 
people  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  is  left  to  the 
alternative  of  civilization  or  rapid  extinction.  The  spread  of 
population,  art  and  science,  will  not  wait  for  the  slow  process 
which  characterized  the  efforts  of  a  century  or  less  ago.  The 
two  conditions  of  the  savage,  and  the  enlightened  of  the  species 
cannot  live  peaceably,  and  with  equal  prosperity,  together. 
While  this  is  a  deplorable  element  of  human  intercourse,  the 
weaker  must  give  way  to  the  stronger. 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  283 

A  retrospect  of  the  history  of  this  continent  as  regards  the 
two  races,  demonstrates  very  satisfactorily,  the  causes  of  the 
depletion  of  the  Indian  population,  and  the  same  processes  are 
still  at  work.  In  the  contests  between  the  rival  nations  of  the 
old  world,  for  territorial  aggrandizement,  taking  advantage  of 
the  simplicity  and  passions  of  the  aborigines  by  means  of  pro 
mises  and  presents,  this  unsuspecting  people  were  induced  to 
participate  in  the  endless  wars  which  ensued.  These  hostilities 
led  to  feuds  and  rivalries  among  the  savages  themselves,  and 
where  tjie  thirst  for  blood  was  so  fully  gratified,  the  radical 
change  of  nature  required  by  civilization,  occupied  the  least 
portion  o/  their  attention  or  desires.  The  natural  result  was  a 
a  melancholy  and  rapid  decline  of  numbers,  and  the  few  still 
in  existence  perpetuating  the  tribal  names,  and  very  few  of  the 
nobler  qualities  of  their  progenitors,  point  to  an  inevitable  fate. 

The  civilization  of  to-day  is  selfish  and  aggressive.  The  "\ 
multiplicity  of  new  avenues  of  development  realized  in  the  ap 
plication  of  steam  and  electricity,  are  not  to  be  trammeled  by 
such  abstract  considerations  as  philanthropy.  Humanity  may 
arouse  feelings  of  magnanimity  on  the  part  of  the  strong,  but 
philanthropy  is  an  ideal  sought  after,  and  too  often  results  in 
a  misinterpretation  of  the  condition,  and  capacity  of  the  weak. 
It  is  easier  to  imagine  philanthropy  without  understanding  it, 
than  to  elevate  and  ameliorate  an  abject,  or  a  savage  race,  by 
the  mere  process  of  bestowing  charity  for  the  accommodation 
or  convenience  of  ph}7sical  necessities.  An  inherent  spirit  of 
progress  must  certainly  exist  before  any  advance  in  the  scale 
of  improvement  can  be  anticipated.  If  a  savage  prefers  his 
native  wilds,  to  the  anxieties,  perplexities,  and  higher  condition 
of  intellect  incident  to  civilization,  no  flowery  sentimentality 
nor  sympathetic  expressions  of  the  heart  will  avail  a  particle  of 
good.  A  natural  energy  of  mind  and  body,  stimulated  by  an 
ambition  to  rise  in  the  scale  of  human  life,  will  more  speedily 
accomplish  results,  than  all  the  external  influence  that  could  be 
brought  into  existence.  The  spread  of  civilization  must  either 
be  retarded  to  allow  those  whom  we  wish  to  benefit,  to  catch 


284  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

up  or  go  forward,  and  engulf  those  who  are  unable  to  ride  upon 
its  rolling  wave. 

The  Black  Hawk  war  of  1831-'32,  the  Seminole  war  lasting 
seven  years,  the  Creek  war,  the  Sioux  war  of  1852,  the  Chey 
enne  and  Sioux  outbreak  of  1864,  and  the  Cheyenne  war  of 
1867,  together  with  repeated  less-important  troubles,  have  re 
sulted  with  large  expenditures  of  money  and  a  considerable 
loss  of  life,  on  both  sides,  in  opening  to  settlement  and  profit 
able  use  a  vast  extent  of  domain,  reaching  nearly  two  thousand 
miles  west  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  For  the  past  twenty  years 
the  same  scenes  have  transpired  to  dispossess  the  savages  of 
their  profitless  occupation  of  the  valuable  territory  on  the  Pacific 
slope,  and  to  clear  the  way  for  that  career  of  affluence  and  empire 
which  first  found  its  way  upon  those  remote  shores  through  the 
golden  gate. 

The  total  Indian  population,  now  living  within  the  limits  of 
the  United  States,  is  less  than  three  hundred  thousand.  Of 
these  about  seventy-six  thousand  are  found  within  the  limits 
of  civilization,  while  very  nearly  three  times  that  number,  or 
over  two  hundred  and  nineteen  thousand,  inhabit  the  plains 
and  Rocky  mountains.  Both  these  regions,  less  inviting  to  the 
husbandman,  or  undeveloped,  respecting  their  mineral  wealth, 
have  become  the  last  point  of  refuge  for  the  race. 

The  Indians,  in  their  new  resorts,  have  found  facilities  for 
pursuing  their  wild  habits,  and  trusting  to  the  natural  defences 
thrown  around  them,  experience,  at  least,  that  temporary  respite 
from  harrassing  and  depleting  wars,  inspired  in  defence  of  their 
hunting-grounds,  and  retaliated  by  the  whites  from  necessity 
and  protection  against  the  horrible  outrages  which  belong  to 
savage  warfare. 

The  Indian  question  now  comes  up  in  its  latest  phase,  and  is 
brought  to  a  final  issue.  For  more  than  twenty  years  an  ex 
clusively  civil  administration  has  been  tried,  and  in  no  instance, 
when  the  whole  subject  has  been  investigated,  do  we  find  a 
single  act  which  has  advanced  the  savage  materially  above  his 
primitive  condition.  A  gigantic  system  of  pauperism  has  been 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  285 

inaugurated,  in  which  the  savage  has  reaped  the  least  share  of 
the  benefits. 

Let  us  take  a  casual  glance  at  this  machinery  of  civil  govern 
ment.  By  act  of  Congress,  about  twenty  years  since,  the  man 
agement  of  the  Indian  tribes,  within  the  United  States,  was 
placed  exclusively  within  the  control  of  the  Department  of  the 
Interior.  The  Secretary,  representing  the  head  of  this  branch 
of  the  Executive  of  the  Government,  turned  the  active  manage 
ment  over  to  a  bureau  officer,  known  as  Commissioner  of  Indian 
affairs.  A  mere  subordinate,  this  officer  undertook  the  govern 
ment  of  the  large  population  of  human  beings  entrusted  to  him. 
In  his  official  character,  he  had  not  even  the  appearance  of 
executive  functions.  The  Secretary  trusted  to  the  Commis 
sioner,  while  the  latter  attempted  to  fulfil  his  duties  within  the 
limited  powers  he  possessed.  The  office/  not  tempting  in  its 
honors  and  legitimate  rewards,  did  not  invite  as  high  an  order 
of  ability  as  its  requirements  demanded.  An  effort  was  made 
to  bring  about  an  organization  by  classifying  the  Indian  tribes 
within  certain  prescribed  limits,  under  the  immediate  supervi- 
ion  of  superintendents  and  agents.  An  army  of  representatives 
was  sent  among  the  tribes.  Annually  large  appropriations  have 
since  been  voted  by  Congress,  as  an  annuity  fund,  to  pay  the 
traveling  expenses  of  Indian  delegations  visiting  "  the  Great 
Father,"  at  Washington,  to  foot  the  bills  of  Peace  Commission 
ers,  sent  out  at  intervals  to  bribe  the  refractory  tribes  to  a  nomi 
nal  recognition  of  authority,  in  compensating  contractors  having 
charge  of  the  periodical  removals  of  the  tribes  from  an  old 
reservation  to  a  new  one,  in  purchasing  or  leasing  ceded  lands 
from  one  nation  for  the  use  of  another,  and  for  other  purposes, 
which  seems  to  have  constituted  a  no-less  important  item.  In 
the  expenditure  of  these  large  sums  of  public  money,  as  well  as 
in  the  general  management  of  the  Indians,  there  has  never  been 
any  visible  responsibility.  An  agent  secured  a  large  amount 
of  funds,  which  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  disburse,  and  upon  this 
principle,  apparently,  thousands  of  dollars  have  found  their 


286  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

way,  out  of  the  Indian  appropriations,  without  even  keeping 
the  Indians  at  peace. 

Another  fact  which  has  come  under  our  personal  observation, 
is  the  wholly  unaccountable  dealings  with  the  different  tribes. 
It  is  known  very  well  by  the  Indians  themselves,  that  to  be 
hostile  to  the  government  is  more  profitable  than  to  adhere 
faithfully  to  the  obligations  of  their  treaties.  In  December, 
1868,  we  witnessed  the  distribution  of  the  annuity  goods  to  the 
Peneteghtka  band  of  Comanches.  This  band,  through  every 
contingency  of  threats  from  their  own  race  and  neglect  at  the 
hands  of  the  government,  for  ten  years  had  been  friendly,  and 
had  committed  no  acts  of  violence,  as  a  tribe,  against  the  whites. 
Yet,  at  the  time  alluded  to,  I  was  told  by  the  chief,  that  that 
was  but  the  second  distribution  of  annuity  goods  during  the 
long  period  of  their  friendship,  although,  in  the  treaty,  the 
government  had  pledged  itself  to  an  annual  recurrence  of  these 
favors. 

This  has  been  precisely  the  policy.  Those  who  deserved  to 
be  rewarded,  were  the  very  ones  who  suffered.  If  any  one 
thinks  an  Indian,  because  he  is  a  savage,  is,  in  consequence, 
ignorant  of  the  arts  of  diplomacy,  that  person  is  very  much 
mistaken.  Not  bound  by  any  moral  obligations,  his  promises 
are  good  as  long  as  he  is  benefited  by  their  fulfilment ;  but  it  is 
a  slight  transition  from  peace  to  war,  when  he  conceives  fresh 
claims  upon  the  liberality  and  indecision  of  his  agents.  The 
Cheyennes,  Arrapahoes,  Kiowas,  leading  bands  of  the  Coman 
ches  and  Apaches,  wise  in  policy  as  they  are  restless  in  spirit, 
as  representative  tribes  of  the  southern  plains,  have  long  dis 
covered  their  power,  having  received  more  than  their  share  of 
goods  as  a  reward  for  their  abundant  promises  of  good  behavior 
and  periodical  marauding  expeditions  upon  the  frontiers  of 
Texas  and  along  the  line  of  the  Arkansas.  The  tribes  men 
tioned  are  known  and  recognized  as  the  richest  upon  the  south 
ern  plains,  and  have  received,  in  addition,  as  a  reward  for  their 
arrogance  and  threats,  the  lion's  share  of  the  gifts  of  the  gov 
ernment. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  287 

But,  unquestionably,  the  greatest  anomaly  in  the  Indian 
management  has  been  the  farcical  pow-wows  called  treaties. 
These  "  treaties"  have  been  consummated  in  the  following  man 
ner  :  A  few  bands  take  the  war-path  from  inclination,  or  neglect, 
as  they  claim,  on  the  part  of  the  government.  The  bureau,  or 
Congress,  if  the  war  be  of  dimensions,  sends  out  its  representa 
tives  to  open  negotiations,  and  to  secure  a  restoration  of  peace. 
The  Commissioners,  having  arrived  on  the  ground  selected  for 
the  council,  and  with  them  having  a  variety  of  goods  and  trink 
ets  for  presents,  send  out  runners  to  communicate  with  the 
hostile  bands.  A  small  party  of  Indian  scouts  are  met.  The 
runner  is  captured,  and  undergoes  great  risk  of  losing  his  hair 
before  credulity  is  brought  in  harmony  with  the  cupidity  of  the 
savage.  The  assurance  of  "  heaps  of  presents  "  is  followed  by 
sending  off  one  of  the  party  to  communicate  with  the  main 
camp.  The  expression  of  the  tribe  is  obtained  by  a  council, 
at  which  the  chief  presides  and  the  head  men  give  their  views. 
Meanwhile  the  runner  is  held  by  his  captors,  who  amuse  them 
selves  in  insulting  him,  and  talk  about  how  they  will  kill  him 
if  he  "  speaks  lies."  If  the  talk  of  the  council  is  "  good," 
word  is  sent  back  by  the  runner,  that  the  tribe  will  "bury  the 
hatchet."  A  delegation  of  head  men  of  the  tribe  follows.  If 
everything  is  satisfactory,  the  warriors  come  in  with  shouts  and 
the  discharge  of  fire-arms,  dressed  in  war  attire,  and  painted  in 
all  sorts  of  fantastic  devices,  generally  producing  a  particularly 
terrifying  effect  upon  the  Commissioners.  *  The  savage  feels  his 
importance,  for  it  is  satisfactory  to  his  mind  that  he  comes  in, 
not  because  he  is  compelled  to,  but  as  a  victor,  because  he  is 
willing.  In  this  condition,  he  is  not  backward  in  demanding 
and  securing  any  terms  he  pleases,  and  he  struts  aboui  as  if  he 
felt  it  were  only  his  magnanimity  that  forbade  him  seizing  the 
goods  lying  in  wait  for  his  acceptance,  and,  as  special  trophies, 
taking  with  him  the  choice  locks  from  the  heads  of  the  Com 
missioners. 

The  formality  of  the  council  or  "  talk,"  is  gone  through  with, 


288  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

the  savage  smokes  in  silence  and  puts  on  one  of  those  looks  of 
profound  reflection  and  overflowing  sincerity,  for  which  he  is 
celebrated.  The  "  treaty  "  is  consummated.  The  presents  are 
distributed,  and  the  savage  negotiators,  without  the  ceremony 
of  an  acknowledgement,  decamp,  while  the  Commissioners  scam 
per  off,  as  if  doubtful  of  their  personal  safety,  until  they  are  far 
within  the  confines  of  civilization.  A  few  months  later,  and 
many  of  these  same  savages  will  be  found  again  on  the  war 
path  and  ready  for  another  "  treaty  ' 

Again,  we  find  a  deplorable  lack  of  knowledge  or  true  inter 
pretation  of  Indian  character.  As  a  race,  the  condition  in  which 
we  find  the  American  Indian  of  to-day,  is  not  one  step  above 
his  condition  three  centuries  ago.  If  any  change  have  taken 
place,  it  has  been  for  the  worse.  Influenced  by  the  most  absurd 
and  exacting  superstitions,  with  a  spirit  incapable  of  the  re 
straints  of  a  regular  mocfe  of  living,  with  no  ambition  above  the 
acquisition  of  scalps,  as  an  evidence  of  valor  and  the  accumu 
lation  of  ponies,  or  other  objects  of  Indian  value,  as  constituting 
wealth,  with  no  conception  of  the  uses  of  money,  with  no  law, 
save  that  of  custom,  bowing  to  no  authority  but  that  vested  in 
the  voice  of  the  tribe,  treacherous  in  his  intercourse  with  others, 
depending  upon  the  chase  for  food,  and  in  most  instances,  for 
a  rude  covering  for  his  body,  we  have  the  American  Indian  as 
we  really  find  him.  A  savage,  by  nature,  he  persists  in  lead 
ing  the  live  of  a  savage.  He  delights  in  scenes  of  blood,  and 
spoils  wrung  from  his  neighbors,  serve  him  as  the  road  to  for 
tune. 

It  cannot  be  said  that  the  Indian  so  well  preserves  his  charac 
ter  as  a  savage,  because  he  has  not  been  subject  to  the  influ 
ences  calculated  to  improve  his  condition.  The  missionary, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  continent  with  the  first  adven 
turers,  gave  his  earliest  thoughts  "  to  the  conversion  of  the 
heathen."  The  devout  monarchs  of  those  days,  made  the 
"  teaching  of  the  gospel  to  the  savage  inhabitants  of  the  coun 
try,"  a  paramount  obligation  in  the  granting  of  new  territories. 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  289 

This  same  interest  has  been  manifested  ever  since,  but  all  the 
energy,  piety,  contributions  of  money,  and  sacrifice  of  personal 
safety  and  comfort,  expended  on  behalf  of  the  savage,  during 
these  long  years,  stand  in  bewildering  contrast  with  the  miser 
able  handful  of  impoverished  individual  instances,  rated  under 
the  head  of  Christian  Indians. 

It  is  to  be  said  of  these  men,  who  hazarded  the  enmity  and 
caprice  of  a  savage  foe,  though  their  efforts  were  barren  of 
results,  worthy  of  their  pious  labors,  as  the  explorer,  traversing 
new  countries  and  opening  to  the  world  fresh  and  valuable 
accessions  to  the  store  of  geographical  information,  as  well  as 
opening  an  acquaintance  with  the  people  among  whom  they 
journeyed  and  lodged,  they  advanced  the  interests  of  know 
ledge  if  they  did  not  enlarge  the  boundaries  of  religion. 

An  effort  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  savage  has  not 
formed  the  least  feature  in  the  official  administration  of  their 
affairs.  The  means  adopted  to  accomplish  this  result,  through 
the  tangible  evidences  of  food  and  clothing,  are  generally  part 
of  the  specifications  in  the  treaties  with  the  tribes.  None  of 
these  "  treaties  "  take  note  of  the  intermediate  stages  from  the 
savage  to  even  a  semi-civilized  condition,  there  is  no  executive 
provision  to  enforce  compliance  on  the  part  of  the  refractory. 
It  is  attempted,  by  tribute,  to  win  the  savages  over  to  the  new 
condition  of  things.  They  are  furnished  with  clothing  in  too 
small  quantities  to  clothe  them  all  the  year  round,  so  that  one- 
fifth  of  their  time  they  dress  in  a  civilized  attire,  and  the 
remaining  four-fifths  appear  in  a  savage  costume.  The  pit 
tance  held  forth  as  an  inducement  to  tempt  them  to  go  upon 
the  reservations,  is  probably  the  best  commentary  that  can  be 
made  upon  this  policy,  yet,  until  recently,  it  has  been  a  fair 
sample  of  the  most  enlarged  official  efforts  to  better  the  condi 
tion  of  the  red  man.  The  terms  might  be  accepted  and  com 
plied  with,  readily,  by  some  wretched,  poverty-stricken,  and 
subjugated  bands,  reduced  to  a  servile  condition  by  the  misfor 
tunes  attendant  upon  perpetual  wars  with  their  enemies.  To 

19 


290  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

the  same  extent  that  such  instances  of  submission  are  natural, 
and  the  only  cases  of  sincere  friendship,  it  is  absurd  to  imagine 
that  the  wily  Kiowa,  the  powerful  Comanche,  the  warlike  Chey 
enne  and  Arrapahoe,  for  instance,  with  their  herds  of  ponies, 
numbering  by  thousands,  their  magnificent  lodges,  and  all  the 
comforts  which  wealth  and  savage  luxury  and  ingenuity  can 
secure,  are  to  be  won  over,  permanently,  from  a  condition  of 
independence  and  a  congenial  mode  of  living,  for  one  suit  of 
clothes,  one  hat,  a  red  shirt,  and  a  pair  of  stockings. 


ON   TIIE   BORDERS.  291 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

THE   ADMINISTRATION   OP  INDIAN  AFFAIRS   CONTINUED. 

SOURCE  of  constant  complaint  among  the  Indians 
I  found  to  be  the  inferior  quality  of  the  few  goods 
issued  to  them,  though  the  prices  paid  by  the  gov 
ernment  would  secure  a  far  superior  article.  I  ex 
amined,  with  a  number  of  army  officers,  the  goods 
for  over  two  thousand  Indians,  these  having  been  regularly  pur 
chased  sometime  before  the  recent  changes.  The  suit  of  sub 
stantial  clothes  consisted  of  a  coat  and  pantaloons  of  coarse  cot 
ton  stuff,  and  looked  as  if  dyed  in  writing  fluid.  Several  of  tho 
coats  could  not  even  hold  together  long  enough  to  give  several 
Indians  of  obese  figure  a  chance  to  select  a  fitting  size.  This 
was  the  leading  feature  of  the  civilizing  process  which,  until 
recently,  had  been  going  on  at  a  vast  expense  of  millions  of 
the  people's  money,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  with  no  practical 
benefit  to  the  savage.  A  few  missionaries  to  teach  the  use  of 
coats  and  pantaloons  were  also  needed. 

A  comparison  of  the  progress  attained  by  the  Indian  popula 
tion  in  the  various  sections  of  the  country  shows  the  following 
figures  before  the  present  policy  was  adopted  : 

The  Plains — Population,  112,366;  acres  cultivated,  23,949; 
frame  houses,  549  ;  log  houses,  5,070 ;  schools,  27  ;  scholars, 
1,681 ;  teachers,  56  ;  missionaries,  48. 

The  Rocky  Mountains — Population,  107,442;  acres  culti 
vated,  13,605;  frame  houses,  13;  log  houses,  14;  schools,  1; 
scholars,  16  ;  teachers,  1 ;  missionaries,  none. 

East  of  the  Mississippi — Population,  26,848 ;  acres  culti 
vated,  30,573 ;  frame  houses,  657  ;  log  houses,  1,475  ;  schools, 
52 ;  scholars,  2,090  ;  teachers,  52 ;  missionaries,  33. 


292  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

The  Pacific  Coast— Population,  49,338 ;  acres  cultivated, 
7,888;  frame  houses,  572;  log  houses,  692;  schools,  10; 
scholars,  237 ;  teachers,  12. 

In  the  mere  matter  of  cultivating  the  soil,  which  is  the  first 
most  important  step  the  savage  makes  towards  a  change  of  life, 
it  is  certainly  a  matter  of  encouragement  to  discover  that  the 
remnants  of  the  tribes  east  of  the  Mississippi,  numbering  less 
than  one-tenth  the  whole  Indian  population,  cultivate  nearly 
one-half  of  the  entire  number  of  acres  tilled  by  Indian  labor. 
Half  of  the  remainder  of  acres  are  cultivated  by  the  bands 
living  within  the  limits  of  Kansas,  and  the  seated  tribes  of  the 
Indian  Territory 

In  this  connection  it  should,  however,  be  remembered  that 
the  tribes  east  of  the  Mississippi,  who  cultivate  such  an  over 
whelming  proportion  of  the  entire  number  of  acres,  are  but  per 
petuating  a  means  of  sustenance,  even  more  universal  at  the 
time  of  the  first  appearance  of  the  white  race  than  now.  The 
seated  tribes  of  Kansas,  in  a  majority  of  cases,  formerly  resided 
east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  were  an  agricultural  people.  Those 
seated  in  the  Indian  Territory,  like  the  Cherokees,  also  eastern 
nations,  were  far  in  advance  of  their  cotemporary  tribes,  and 
are  an  exception  to  the  rest  of  their  people  to-day, 

In  the  examination  of  Indian  statistics,  with  a  view  of  elicit 
ing  some  guide  by  which  to  determine  the  leading  causes  which 
induce  the  Indian  to  leave  his  primitive  way  of  living,  it  is  found 
that  in  every  instance  those  tribes  that  have  yielded  have  done 
so  from  necessity.  That  the  step  has  not  been  an  act  of  theii 
own  desire  to  rise  in  the  scale  of  development,  but  forced  upon 
them  by  the  depletion  and  ruin  brought  upon  themselves  by 
constant  wars. 

Although  not  clone  with  the  sanction  of  the  tribes,  individual 
warriors,  upon  their  own  account,  frequently  unite  with  other 
tribes  in  predatory  expeditions,  and  it  frequently  occurs  that 
Indian  bands,  tired  of  the  hard  lot  of  so-called  semi-civilization, 
take  the  first  chance  to  incorporate  into  a  more  powerful  tribe, 
following  its  habits,  and  controlled  by  its  preponderating  in- 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  293 

fluence.  The  remnants  of  the  only  nations  which  have  resorted 
to  fixed  rules  of  government  and  modes  of  life  are  the  Chcro- 
kees,  Creeks,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  and  Seminoles.  These 
nations  have  adopted  a  rude  model  of  government,  with  execu 
tive,  legislative,  and  judicial  departments  ;  have  a  capital,  a  few 
primitive  towns,  cultivate  the  soil,  and  raise  stock.  In  manners, 
living,  and  dress,  they  imitate  the  whites. 

In  all  their  pride,  power,  and  affluence,  when  occupying  the 
fertile  lands  of  Florida,  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Mississippi, 
according  to  cotemporary  writers,  these  people  lived  in  towns, 
had  a  regular  government,  and  raised  extraordinary  crops  of 
maize.  They  do  nothing  more  to-day,  except  to  exchange  their 
primitive  customs  and  forms  for  a  rude  imitation  of  something 
modern.  The  length  of  time  that  has  elapsed,  with  a  proper 
application  of  its  opportunities,  since  their  first  contact  with  the 
whites,  would  certainly  lead  us  to  expect  more.  There  are  indi- 
ividual  instances  of  very  superior  men,  by  education  and  talent 
in  all  these  nations.  There  are  a  few  establishments,  on  a 
more  extensive  scale,  indicating  refinement  and  education ;  but, 
so  far  from  being  an  example  for  imitation,  they  have,  in  a  great 
measure,  proved  a  cause  of  the  degradation  and  impoverishment 
of  the  helpless  and  ignorant.  » 

A  review  of  our  Indian  difficulties  shows,  also,  that  the  v> 
Indian  has  been  treated  frequently  with  the  greatest  injustice 
and  falsehood.  It  is  natural,  as  he  sees  his  race  declining  in 
numbers,  his  former  hunting-grounds  annually  growing  less  to 
make  way  for  the  settler,  that  he  should  feel  sad  in  spirit. 
Acknowledging  the  stern  necessities  which  surround  him,  either 
by  force  or  compensation,  he  yields  up  his  lands.  In  exchange 
he  was  to  receive  certain  annuities.  The  government  failed  to 
perform  its  obligations.  The  money  was  appropriated,  yet  the 
poor  savage  complained  that  "  their  agents  lie;  they  get  nothing, 
and  are  forced  to  resort  to  war  to  save  themselves  from  ruin." 
They  invade  the  settlements.  These  settlements,  they  say,  are 
upon  their  own  lands,  and  they  want  to  drive  the  white  man 
away.  This  is  natural,  because  the  government  promised,  but 


294  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

failed,  to  pay  them  for  their  lands ;  therefore  they  are  going  to 
fight  to  get  their  lands  back.  This  is  the  Indian's  argument. 
The  secret  of  the  majority  of  wars,  though  the  blame  is  attrib 
uted  to  the  whites  in  general,  is,  in  reality,  the  fault  of  misman 
agement.  Where  the  settler  goes  beyond  the  legitimate  limits 
of  the  government  title,  he  exposes  himself  to  consequences 
which  should  receive  no  sympathy,  and  be  recognized  as  the 
punishment  which  he  deserves  for  a  violation  of  the  faith  which 
the  government  agreed  to  keep.  But  to  say  that  the  whites  are 
to  blame  for  acts  which  have  been  indisputably,  the  logical 
results  of  faulty  administration,  is  a  charge  which  grossly  mis 
represents  that  hardy,  adventurous,  and  industrious  class  of  our 
population,  who  sacrifice  the  comforts  and  security  of  estab 
lished  society  to  open  the  way  to  the  peaceful  industries. 

Those  who  are  capable  of  comprehending  the  great  issue  now 
before  the  government  in  regard  to  the  western  frontiers,  will 
admit  the  utility  of  steam  and  telegraphic  communication  be 
tween  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific.  Where  there  are  railroads, 
there  must  be  stations  at  intervals,  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  workmen,  and  a  surplus  population  to  provide  for  their  sub 
sistence  and  living.  This  constitutes  settlements.  For  the 
safety  of  trade  and  human  life,  something  must  be  done  to  pro 
vide  the  Indian  with  a  sufficient  and  a  responsible  government, 
to  compass  his  physical  wants,  and  to  compel  the  insubordinate 
to  quiet. 

It  must  be  accepted  that  the  savage  cannot  be  controlled  by 
moral  influences,  and  to  buy  peace  is  to  gratify  his  vanity  as  a 
victor.  The  only  law  he  recognizes  in  his  local  administration 
is  force,  and  the  only  authority  he  will  respect  in  his  relations 
with  the  national  government,  is  the  same  which,  by  inheritance, 
nature,  and  discipline,  he  has  been  taught  to  fear. 

The  system  of  reservations,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indian,  is 
a  good  one  if  properly  enforced.  It  is  sure  in  the  present  state 
of  affairs,  the  Indian  must  be  reduced,  and  confined  within  cer 
tain  limits,  or  the  white  man  must  abandon  his  railroads  and 
telegraphs.  Public  enterprise  and  public  convenience  demand 


ON   THE  BORDERS.  *  295 

that  these  should  exist.  For  the  sake  of  future  security  a  belt 
of  country,  extending  from  the  Arkansas,  to  a  line  fifty  or  a 
hundred  miles  north  of  the  Platte  river  must  be  removed  from 
all  contingencies  of  Indian  attack.  An  extensive  system  of 
reservations  north  of  the  north  line,  for  the  northern  tribes,  and 
another  south  of  the  Arkansas,  for  the  southern  tribes  already 
exists.  The  Indian  should  be  informed  of  the  country  he  is  to 
occupy,  and  if  he  refuse  to  go  there,  should  be  whipped  into 
submission.  More  than  two  years  ago,  the  Indians  agreed  by 
"  treaty  "  to  occupy  these  reservations,  but  the  imbecility  or 
timidity  of  the  civil  administration,  at  that  time,  put  over  him, 
failed  to  move  him  one  step  towards  the  fulfilment  of  the  wishes 
of  the  government.  The  representatives  of  the  government, 
in  order  to  keep  peace,  yielded  everything  until  the  demands 
of  the  savage  exceeded  their  ability  to  satisfy,  and  their  red 
charge  went  to  war  to  earn  fresh  claims  to  their  benevolence. 

The  civil  policy  has  been  one  of  continued  submission.  The 
true  motto  in  keeping  with  the  ideas  of  the  savage,  is  to  demand 
nothing  but  what  is  just,  and  never  give  up  that  which  has  once 
been  claimed  and  acquired.  A  savage  never  asks,  but  demands. 
To  acquiesce  from  any  motives,  whatever,  is  to  him  a  surrender 
by  compulsion  or  through  fear.  The  reservations  set  apart  for 
the  wild  tribes  of  the  southern  plains,  compose  some  of  the  finest 
lands  to  be  found  west  of  the  Mississippi  river.  The  Indian  ter 
ritory  has  long  been  the  seat  of  a  large  Indian  population.  The 
Indian  territory  extends  from  the  Kansas  southern  boundary  to 
the  Red  river,  and  about  eight  degrees  of  longitude  at  its  greatest 
breadth.  The  reservation  of  the  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes, 
carved  out  of  that  portion  of  the  territory  known  as  the  Cherokee 
country,  abounds  in  a  variety  of  natural  grasses,  and  is  a  favorite 
range  of  the  buffalo.  The  Cornanche  and  Kiowa  reservation  lies 
west  of  the  Chickasaw  nation,  and  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
territory  bordering  on  the  Red  river.  This  country  is  if  possi 
ble  superior  to  the  other,  and  is  acknowledged  to  embrace  the 
finest  lands  in  the  Indian  territory.  Notwithstanding  the  ex 
pensive  presents  expended  at  the  treaty  of  Medicine  Lodge 


296  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS 

creek,  the  tribes  which  pledged  themselves  to  occupy  their  re 
servations,  did  not  make  the  first  move  towards  putting  into 
effect  their  promises  until  they  were  compelled,  The  war  in 
augurated  by  the  (Jheyennes  and  Arrapahoes,  and  supported 
morally  and  physically  by  the  Kiowas,  Comanches,  and  Apaches, 
is  probably  an  incontrovertible  argument  that  the  Indian  par 
ties  to  the  treaty,  had  no  intention  to  comply  until  disturbed  in 
their  contemplated  aggressions,  on  a  large  scale,  by  the  unex 
pected  presence  of  the  army  in  their  midst. 

We  have  seen  that  the  Indian  can  only  be  controlled  by 
force.  This  being  the  case  it  is  certain  that  no  administration, 
to  be  effective,  can  be  enforced  without  the  co-operation  of  the 
army.  And  in  many  respects  the  army  recommends  itself  as 
more  competent  than  the  civil  power.  The  army  combines 
executive  functions  with  the  capacity  to  exact  compliance.  No 
one  would  believe,  for  a  moment,  that  the  army  would  wantonly 
exercise  unnecessary  severity, 

It  is  an  historical  fact  that,  for  year  after  year,  expeditions 
have  been  sent  against  the  Indians,  to  be  defeated  by  the  in 
trigues  of  the  agents  of  the  government. 

Refractory  bands  have  been  punished,  and  the  government, 
at  the  instance  of  its  agents,  has  reimbursed  them  for  their 
losses  at  a  vast  outlay  of  the  public  money.  An  act  of  obedience 
on  the  part  of  one  branch  of  the  public  service  has  invariably 
been  denounced  as  a  fiendish  and  atrocious  massacre  of  inno 
cent  people  by  the  other.  The  savage,  it  is  undeniable,  must 
be  kept  in  certain  localities.  Contact  with  the  whites  is  a  sure 
precursor  of  extermination  by  disease,  chronic  inebriation,  or 
drunken  brawls.  His  days  of  unrestrained  freedom  upon  his 
native  plains  is  a  thing  of  the  past.  When  the  wild  Indian 
understands  that  on  the  reservation  means  peace,  and  outside 
of  it  war,  the  government  may  look  for  quiet,  and  the  settler  on 
the  frontiers  for  perfect  security.  Then  the  large  hearts  and 
affluence  of  the  humanitarians  of  the  nation  would  be  able,  with 
an  assurance  of  safety,  to  put  into  practice  the  benevolent  in 
tentions,  which  might,  at  least  lessen,  if  they  could  not  conquer, 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  297 

the  savage  instincts  of  the  Indian.  Upon  the  reservation  the 
Indian  would  be  accessible  and  a  safe  one  to  meet.  Upon  the 
plain  to  find  him  would  be  the  toil  of  months,  and  when  found 
his  hospitality  would  be  uncertain.  Restrained  in  his  longing 
for  war,  by  the  fear  of  punishment,  the  red  man  might  find 
some  object  in  bettering  his  condition.  The  issue  to  be  solved 
is  the  preservation  of  what  remains  of  the  Indian  race  by  an 
administration  which  he  fears,  or  a  continued  warring  against 
him,  brought  on  by  his  own  acts,  and  the  encroachments  of  the 
settlers,  both  the  natural  result  of  an  authority  without  a  head 
to  reason  or  arms  to  strike. 


29S  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 


CHAPTER  XL. 

OPENING  OP  SPRING — OFF  FOR  CAMP  SUPFLT. 

'HE  valleys  around  were  already  beginning  to  assume 
the  garb  of  spring.  The  feathered  harbingers  had 
already  made  their  appearance.  The  groves,  border 
ing  the  streams,  were  already  joyous  with  such  mu*ic 
as  we  had  not  listened  to  for  months.  This  opening 
scene  of  the  year  enlivened  all.  The  trooper  lolled  about  in  the 
genial  atmosphere.  The  animals  showed  signs  of  life  and  spirit. 
The  change  which  was  now  passing  over  the  face  of  nature  was 
the  more  agreeable,  as  the  termination  of  the  hards-hips  and  rigors, 
to  which  the  command  had  been  exposed.  In  the  far  southern 
latitude  we  had  reached,  we  now  found  all  that  salubrity  of 
climate  and  advance  of  vegetation. 

The  campaign  for  the  winter  having  ended,  Sheridan  deter 
mined  to  leave  for  the  northern  posts  and  observe  what  had 
taken  place  during  his  absence  in  the  field.  A  few  wagons, 
sufficient  to  transport  the  smallest  allowance  of  baggage,  blan 
kets,  and  supplies,  together  with  the  led  horses,  were  sent  a 
day  in  advance  to  Fort  Cobb.  The  Commanding  General,  three 
staff  officers,  myself,  an  interpreter,  five  orderlies,  a  cook,  one 
servant,  and  thirty-eight  of  the  scouts,  constituted  our  party. 
Our  transportation,  two  ambulances  and  three  army  wagons. 
The  headquarter's  train  was  left  in  charge  of  Colonel  Moore, 
with  instructions  to  move  with  Ouster's  column. 

At  seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  February  23d,  we  set  out, 
having  before  us  a  journey  of  over  four  hundred  miles  in  the 
saddle,  through  a  wild  and  desolate  country.  As  we  passed 
through  the  camps,  the  officers  and  troops  had  turned  out  to 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  299 

witness  our  departure.  Farewells  and  cheers  to  the  General, 
rose,  as  he  rode  through  the  lines  of  men.  We  soon  crossed 
the  Medicine  Bluff  creek.  It  was  almost  with  regret  that  T  left 
the  familiar  tent  and  the  free  life  I  had  so  long  enjoyed,  for  a 
return  to  the  turmoil  and  bustle  of  civilization.  A  life  of  such 
boundless  freedom  inspires  a  feeling  of  aversion  to  the  personal 
restraint,  necessary  in  organized  communities.  I  felt  that  I 
could  now  appreciate  the  fascinations  which  lure  men  from  the 
comforts  and  security  of  established  society,  to  brave  the  dan 
gers  and  exposures  of  the  frontiers. 

We  turned  from  the  subject  of  our  farewell  thoughts.  The 
smoke  of  the  camp-fire,  as  it  wreathed  its  way  heavenward,  was 
the  last  we  saw  of  the  camp  on  the  Medicine  bluff. 

We  now  galloped  away  down  the  hill  and  across  the  plain. 
The  mountains  rapidly  became  a  blue  and  indefinable  mass.  At 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  overtook  the  advance,  sent  out 
the  day  before,  in  camp,  near  Fort  Cobb.  At  Fort  Cobb,  Cap 
tain  Rife,  of  the  6th  infantry,  was  still  in  possession.  His 
position,  certainly,  was  not  one  to  inspire  envy.  Himself,  a 
lieutenant,  and  forty  infantry,  had  wintered  there.  The  nearest 
post  was  the  camp  on  the  Medicine  bluff,  miles  away.  At  the 
.invitation  of  the  captain,  we  cheered  his  hermit  board,  as  his 
guests,  to  dinner.  His  isolated  life  was  not  ill  spent.  A  pro 
fusion  of  game,  taken  from  the  woods,  and  fish  from  the  stream, 
appeased  our  sharpened  appetites.  I  should  add,  that  the  turkey, 
placed  before  us,  weighed  twenty-six  pounds,  and  the  cat-fish 
thirty-eight  pounds. 

The  next  morning,  at  daylight,  we  resumed  our  journey, 
leaving  the  captain  and  his  lieutenant  to  their  solitude.  Our 
animals,  when  we  left  camp,  were  packed  with  a  view  to  the 
extended  journey.  The  route,  the  General  proposed  taking, 
was  one  that  had  not  yet  been  traversed.  The  trail  of  the 
column  lay  far  to  the  west. 

Our  route  on  the  second  day  was  on  a  due  north  line.  The 
country  was  broken  and  sandy.  At  noon  we  found  great  diffi 
culty  in  crossing  several  lagoons  covered  with  thick  cane-brake. 


300  SHERIDAN'S    TROOPERS 

» 

During  the  day  we  passed  several  crystal  lakes,  surrounded  by 
trees.  Twenty  miles  from  the  Washita  river,  our  route  crossed 
a  broad,  ascending  plain.  The  surrounding  country  presented 
a  remarkable  conglomeration  of  hummocks  of  red  rock,  from 
fifty  to  one  hundred  feet  in  height.  One  of  these  rocks  resem 
bled  an  immense  turret.  It  stood  in  the  centre  of  an  expansive, 
open  plain,  and  was  surrounded  by  six  immense  table-lands, 
perfect  in  form,  and  several  hundred  feet  in  height.  At  another 
point  I  counted  no  less  than  sixteen  of  these  table-lands  within 
a  single  sweep  of  the  vision.  At  one  point,  farther  on,  we  passed 
by  the  foot  of  a  natural  fort  with  bastions  and  curtains. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  the  "  divide,"  between  the 
Washita  and  the  Canadian  rivers.  At  the  summit  stood  con- 
spicuously,  a  rock,  sixty  feet  in  height,  familiar  to  the  early 
hunters  and  traders  as  Rock  Mary.  The  General,  desiring  to 
make  the  ascent,  I  accompanied  him,  eager  to  take  advantage 
of  so  rare  an  opportunity  for  a  view.  The  scramble  up  the  bold 
face  of  the  rock  was  no  pastime.  The  view,  as  I  anticipated, 
was  sublime  beyond  comparison.  Standing  above  the  highest 
level  of  all  the  surrounding  country,  a  blue  line  in  the  dim 
distance,  defined  the  Witchitas  sixty  miles  distant.  The  sur 
rounding  plain  could  be  traced  until  heaven  and  earth  joined  in 
hazy  unison. 

The  same  afternoon  we  crossed  the  old  Fort  Smith  and  Santa 
Fe  trail,  famous  years  ago  as  the  great  route  for  trains  from 
the  "  states "  to  New  Mexico.  The  same  night  we  pitched 
our  tents  on  Deer  creek,  forty  miles'  journey  from  the  camp  of 
the  night  before. 

Having  made  an  early  start,  by  eight  o'clock,  on  the  morning 
of  the  twenty-sixth,  we  struck  the  high,  perpendicular  red  clay 
bluffs  overlooking  the  Main  Canadian.  We  descended  to  the 
stream  by  a  tortuous  pass,  narrow  and  deep,  and  furrowed  by 
deep  water  courses  and  buffalo  trails.  We  were  here  more  than 
a  hundred  miles  east  of  the  crossing  we  made  in  moving  south. 
The  ford,  we  found,  was  better,  hi  every  respect.  The  bed  of 
the  stream  was  about  three-fifths  of  a  mile  in  width,  but  the 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  301 

running  water  not  over  two  hundred  yards.  On  the  opposite 
Bide  we  encountered  a  number  of  sand-hills,  from  which  we  rose 
gradually  to  the  main  "  divide  " 

Early  in  the  afternoon  we  entered  a  prairie-dog  town.  The 
diminutive  mound-like  domiciles  lay  upon  the  side  of  an  exten 
sive  rise  in  the  plain,  and  could  be  seen  in  all  directions  as  far 
as  they  could  be  distinguished  at  all  from  the  flat  surface.  The 
busy  little  occupants,  alarmed  at  our  invasion  of  their  domin 
ions,  at  first  sight  raised  on  their  haunches,  made  two  or  three 
indignant,  but  feeble  barks,  and  then  scampered  off  for  positions 
of  convenient  proximity  to  their  subterranean  homes.  The  dogs, 
upon  reaching  their  mounds,  in  the  centre  of  which  were  the 
means  of  egress  and  ingress,  would  once  more  throw  themselves 
upon  their  haunches  and  look  around  them  with  an  exceedingly 
comical  air  of  patriotic  rage.  Here  they  would  wait,  throwing 
their  heads  up  in  the  air  and  barking  until  we  came  within  a 
few  yards,  and  then,  with  a  flourish  of  the  tail,  would  dive  into 
their  holes. 

For  a  distance  of  eight  miles  we  were  constantly  riding 
through  this  immense  "  town,"  and  did  not  reach  the  end  until 
the  next  day.  The  area  covered  by  this  remarkable  community 
was  not  less  than  twelve  miles  in  length  and  two  broad.  The 
"  town  "  covered  at  least  twenty -four  square  miles.  Allowing 
but  twenty  animals  to  the  acre,  and  we  have  three  hundred  and 
six:  thousand  two  hundred  inhabitants  of  this  city  of  pigmy  dogs. 

At  one  o'clock  in  the  day  we  reached  the  North  Fork  of  the 
Canadian,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  Having  made  this  journey 
without  a  rest  it  was  proposed  to  halt  here,  to  give  the  horses, 
which  were  already  showing  the  effect  of  the  heavy  tax  on  their 
feeble  energies,  a  long  respite.  They  were  herded  in  a  valley 
near  by,  and  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  freedom  until  nearly  sun 
down. 

The  next  morning,  the  twenty-seventh,  we  crossed  the 
North  Fork  of  the  Canadian,  and  pitched  our  tents  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  on  the  north  bank,  making  thirty -two 
miles. 


302  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

The  General,  towards  the  end  of  the  march,  being  in  advance 
with  a  few  scouts,  and  having  selected  a  beautiful  site  for  the 
night's  rest,  sent  a  courier  out  on  the  open  ground  to  signal  the 
rest  of  the  party  where  to  turn.  Being  thus  notified  several  of 
us  riding  in  the  rear  struck  into  the  thick  timber,  by  way  of 
making  a  cut-off.  We  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance  when 
a  brisk  fire  was  encountered  in  our  front.  We  dismounted 
quite  expeditiously.  We  could  see  nothing,  but  naturally  the 
first  thought  was  that  we  had  fallen  into  an  ambuscade  laid  by 
some  straggling  war-party.  We  could  not  discern  anything, 
but  our  sense  of  hearing  was  kept  in  lively  recognition  of  an 
enemy  in  front.  The  bullets  flew  thick  and  fast,  the  latest, 
up  to  that  time,  buzzing  with  oracular  effect  close  to  my  head. 
I  changed  position  in  the  rear  of  a  large  cotton- wood.  The 
rest  had  already  adopted  this  wise  precaution.  We  also  took 
care  to  hold  on  to  our  horses,  notwithstanding  their  efforts  to 
change  front  also. 

The  firing  came  closer,  and  the  enemy  seemed  to  be  developing 
more  strength.  All  this  time,  which  in  the  aggregate  was  but 
a  few  minutes,  we  were  waiting  for  some  tangible  foe.  Sud 
denly  a  crashing  of  underbrush  was  heard  not  more  than  twenty 
feet  off.  Our  rifles  were  loaded  ready  for  use.  We  were 
watching  anxiously,  when  a  huge  buffalo  made  his  appearance, 
frothing  at  the  mouth,  and  with  streams  of  blood  rushing  from 
his  nostrils.  We  now  let  go  our  horses.  Evidently  glad  to 
avail  themselves  of  an  opportunity  to  get  out  of  the  way,  at 
least,  judging  from  a  lively  flourish  of  their  heels,  they  set  off 
with  astonishing  alacrity.  The  buffalo  charged  our  line,  and 
penetrated  it.  He  evidently  was  not  aware  of  our  presence. 
As  he  crossed  in  our  rear  we  opened  a  peppering  fire,  which 
seemed  to  astonish  the  monarch  of  the  plain.  He  stopped  for 
a  moment.  It  was  fatal  to  him.  Asch,  from  behind  his  well- 
adjusted  spectacles,  gave  his  majesty  a  dose  of  physic,  which 
went  through  him  with  excellent  effect.  The  old  buffalo  no 
sooner  got  his  dose  from  the  doctor  than  nature  succumbed  to 
science.  He  fell  on  his  fore  knees,  and  made  several  efforts  to 


ON  THE   BORDERS.  303 

gain  his  feet.  A  quiver  shot  through  his  frame.  In  a  moment 
more  the  monster  animal  rolled  over  upon  his  side.  He  gave 
one  convulsive  start — a  tremor  passed  over  him.  With  a  deep 
sigh  of  relief  life  and  body,  were  severed. 

An  instant  after  a  half  dozen  scouts  came  out  of  the  brush  in 
hasty  pursuit.  The  animal  was  too  old  even  for  our  sharpened 
appetites,  so  the  immense  carcass  was  left  for  the  benefit  of  the 
wolves. 

Towards  dusk,  considerably  to  our  enjoyment,  we  discovered 
we  had  encamped  near  a  turkey-roost.  The  Commanding  Gen 
eral,  an  old  turkey-hunter,  had  already  announced  this  piece 
of  intelligence,  and  gave  orders  that  no  one  should  leave  the 
immediate  limits  of  the  camp  without  permission.  This  was  to 
prevent  the  "  birds, "  as  they  gathered  from  the  surrounding 
valleys,  from  being  alarmed  and  driven  off, 

At  sunset,  leaving  a  strong  guard  in  camp,  a  party  consisting 
of  the  General,  and  eight  or  ten  others,  started  into  the  thick 
wood  adjoining  camp.  At  first  the  orders  were  to  lie  in  watch. 
The  wood  occupied  the  low  grounds  of  a  valley.  A  large  drove 
of  fine  birds  came  tramping  down  the  hill  side.  In  front  was 
a  fine  cock,  which  seemed  to  be  the  chief  bird  of  this  feathered 
concourse.  The  chief  carefully  surveyed  everything,  looked 
about  him,  and  then  at  the  trees.  Feeling  assured  that  all  was 
right,  he  gave  a  quick  shrill  whistle.  In  an  instant  the  whole 
flock  raised  with  a  great  flutter,  ascending  to  the  tops  of  the 
larger  trees.  Firing  now  commenced.  It  was  a  general  engage 
ment.  Each  hunter  set  out  for  himself.  The  crack  of  the  rifle 
was  heard  in  every  direction.  The  turkeys  seemed  to  be  be 
wildered,  and  flew  from  tree  to  tree,  but  always  kept  in  the  same 
vicinity.  As  it  grew  dark,  the  number  increased.  Soon  it  be 
came  night,  but  every  dark  object  defined  upon  the  blue  back 
ground  of  the  firmament  was  taken  for  a  turkey,  and  was  pep 
pered  accordingly. 

It  was  fully  nine  o'clock  before  the  last  of  our  party  got  in. 
Stray  shots  from  the  scouts  prowling  about  were  kept  up  all 
night. 


304  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

An  inventory  of  "birds"  taken  before  "turning  in  that 
night "  showed  that  we  had  sixty-three.  The  General  killed 
eleven  of  the  number. 

For  the  next  few  days  we  were  quite  busy  stuffing  ourselves 
with  turkey,  in  order  to  reduce  the  number,  as  we  could  not 
well  carry  so  much  additional  weight  in  the  wagons.  Wild 
turkey  as  a  regular  diet  we  found  to  be  a  gastronomic  question 
admitting  of  controversy. 

We  were  now  not  less  than  seventy-two  miles  from  Camp 
Supply,  two  good  day's  journey.  We  had  entered  an  exceed 
ingly  rough  country,  covered  with  sand  hills  and  sage  brush. 
The  animals  suffered  severely  from  these  impediments  in  the 
way  of  convenient  traveling. 

At  two  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  first  of  March,  the 
stars  and  stripes  were  seen,  dimly  in  the  distance,  waving  over 
the  stockade  fort  at  Camp  Supply.  Our  arrival  was  entirely 
unexpected.  At  first  we  were  taken  for  Indians.  The  senti 
nels  discharged  their  arms  to  give  the  alarm.  The  herders  hast 
ily  drove  in  the  animals,  which  we  could  see  dashing  from  all 
directions  towards  the  corrals.  When  the  mistake  was  discov 
ered,  the  affair  was  much  enjoyed.  Three  long  months  had 
elapsed  since  we  left  the  comforts  of  "  Supply,"  for  the  wild 
country  on  the  Washita 


ON  THE  BORDERS.  305 


CHAPTER  XLL 

HOMEWARD  BOUND  —  AN  AGREEABLE  SURPRISE—  CIVILIZATION  ONCE  MOBI. 


second  of  March,  1869,  was  a  busy  day  at  Camp 
Supply.  Wagons  were  loaded  to  join  the  column 
under  Custer  in  the  south,  and  a  train  was  fitted  out 
to  move  to  Fort  Dodge  for  more  supplies  for  the  Camp 
of  Supply.  The  Commanding  General  had  here  re 
ceived  a  dispatch  from  the  President  elect  to  visit  Washington 
at  the  earliest  moment.  This  changed  the  original  programme 
of  joining  Custer's  column,  and  returning  north  with  him.  There 
was,  however,  no  longer  necessity  for  his  detention  in  the  field 
but  his  own  desire  personally  to  see  the  troops  return  to  their 
summer  camps. 

The  next  day,  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  Com 
manding  General,  Crosby,  McGonnigle,  and  Asch,  of  the  staff, 
myself,  and  two  servants,  in  three  ambulances,  and  with  three 
mounted  orderlies  as  escort,  set  out  for  Fort  Dodge,  over  one 
hundred  miles  distant.  The  escort  was  left  behind,  not  having 
fresh  horses.  Our  personal  baggage  was  strapped  on  five  pack- 
mules,  in  charge  of  an  experienced  packer,  named  Wilson,  who 
had  passed  some  years  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company, 

The  day  was  wet  and  cold.  Before  noon  a  drizzling  rain  set 
in.  At  dark,  the  same  night,  we  halted  on  Bear  creek,  after  a 
journey  of  fifty-two  miles.  During  the  day,  we  were  constantly 
driving  immense  herds  of  buffaloes  before  us,  and  at  night  we 
were  surrounded  by  them.  Attracted  by  the  light  of  our 
fires,  they  approached  so  near  that  the  low  bellow  of  the  bulla 


306  SHERIDAN'S   TROOPERS 

could  be  distinctly  heard.  A  cordon  of  wolves  also  posted 
themselves  around  our  camp,  and  kept  up  a  dismal  howling. 

For  fuel  we  had  a  solitary  log,  and  that  was  wet.  After 
considerable  chopping,  we  got  a  few  dry  chips  with  which  we 
started  a  fire.  A  very  frugal  meal  was  our  night's  portion.  At 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  rain  turned  into  a  heavy  storm 
of  sleet.  The  wind  howled  fearfully.  As  eur  sleeping  accom 
modations  were  limited,  we  divider!,  part  sleeping  in  the  ambu 
lances,  and  part  outside  under  a  tent-fly  near  the  fire.  I  pre 
ferred  the  latter,  and  wisely,  as  the  atmosphere  changed  to  an 
intense  dry  cold  during  the  night,  which  made  the  fire  quite 
acceptable. 

The  next  day  we  continued  our  journey  against  fearful 
weather.  The  air  was  filled  with  a  fine  snow,  driven  in  our 
faces  before  a  fierce  wind. 

At  Bluff  creek  it  was  necessary  to  halt.  The  animals  were 
terribly  blown,  and,  as  for  ourselves,  a  few  more  degrees  of  cold 
would  have  been  insufferable,  notwithstanding  we  were  hard 
ened  by  four  months  of  constant  exposure.  With  great  diffi 
culty,  we  managed  to  build  a  fire,  grateful  indeed  to  all  of  us. 
While  enjoying  a  good  baking,  two  mail-couriers  came  gallop 
ing  down  the  valley.  They  were  halted,  and  after  assorting 
out  the  headquarters'  mail,  we  separated — the  couriers,  hardy 
fellows,  striking  out  once  more  into  the  cold  and  cheerless  waste. 

It  was  dark  when  we  reached  the  Arkansas  river.  The 
stream  was  frozen  over,  and  impassable.  Here  was  a  dilemma. 
Nearly  a  mile  distant,  on  the  opposite  side,  was  Fort  Dodge. 
It  was  necessary  to  arouse  the  garrison  before  we  could  cross. 
We  fired  volleys  from  our  rifles  and  shouted.  It  was  a  cheer 
less  predicament.  The  glimmering  lights  of  the  rude  but  com 
fortable  quarters  of  the  fort  in  sight,  and  yet  compelled  to  tramp 
about  in  darkness,  wind,  and  cold,  unable  to  move  an  inch 
farther.  A  half  hour  now  passed  disagreeably  enough;  but, 
having  succeeded  in  raking  together  a  quantity  of  dry  grass, 
we  contrived  to  start  a  fire,  by  the  light  of  which  we  were 
able  to  gather  sufficient  brush  to  keep  up  the  illumination. 


ON   THE   BORDERS.  307 

At  this  juncture  the  sentinels  at  the  fort  appeared  to  discover 
ns,  and  gave  the  alarm.  Borne  upon  the  night  air  we  could 
hear  the  long-roll  beating  the  men  to  arms.  A  squad  of  troops 
was  sent  across  on  the  ice.  From  them  we  received  the  com 
plimentary  and  gratifying  intelligence  that  the  disturbance  we 
had  made  was  heard  from  the  beginning,  and,  judging  from  our 
unearthly  yells,  we  were  taken  for  savages. 

An  effort  was  made  to  open  a  passage  through  the  ice,  but 
his  having  failed  the  Commanding  General,  with  his  quarter 
master,  walked  to  the  fort,  while  the  rest  of  our  party  passed 
the  night  with  the  ambulances. 

The  next  morning  a  fatigue  party  of  soldiers  managed  to  get 
the  ambulances  over  by  means  of  ropes,  and  running  the  wheels 
on  planks.  The  animals  were  left  on  the  south  side. 

By  noon,  on  the  fifth  of  March,  with  a  complete  "  outfit  "  of 
"shave-tails,"  we  darted  out  of  the  fort.  Every  jump  or  two 
a  set  of  heels  might  be  seen  exposed  in  the  air.  The  drivers 
kept  the  lively  long-eared  quadrupeds  in  the  trail.  A  run  of  a 
few  miles  disposed  of  their  ardor  very  effectually. 

The  next  day,  while  approaching  the  Smoky  Hill,  a  courier 
was  seen  coming  towards  us  at  a  rapid  gait.  Our  outrider 
challenged  him  as  he  came  up.  "  Special  courier  for  the  Com 
manding  General,"  shouted  the  horseman,  at  the  same  time 
dashing  by  the  outrider  at  a  gallop. 

The  outrider,  wheeling,  pursued.  The  courier  halted.  When 
told  the  General  was  approaching  the  courier  met  the  Gen 
eral,  saluted,  and,  with  unexpected  wit,  remarked,  "  I  have 
the  honor  to  deliver  a  dispatch  to  the  Lieutenant  General  "  The 
General,  for  the  first  time  during  my  acquaintance,  was  much 
affected  as  he  read  aloud  the  telegram  announcing  his  pro 
motion. 

Upon  the  banks  of  the  Smoky  Hill  we  drank  from  the  last 
cherished  drops  in  our  canteens  TO  THE  HEALTH  OF  THE  LIEU 
TENANT  GENERAL  AND  THE  CLOSE  OP  THE  CAMPAIGN. 

But  twelve  miles  still  separated  us  from  Fort  Hays.  With 
pleasant  reflections  upon  the  success  of  the  campaign,  with  a 


308  SHERIDAN'S  TROOPERS  ON  THE  BORDERS. 

sense  of  pleasure  inspired  by  the  agreeable  and  appropriate 
moment  of  the  General's  promotion,  with  feelings  of  joy  at  the 
refreshing  anticipations  of  a  speedy  return  to  civilization,  the 
closing  scene  of  the  campaign,  and  the  last  stage  of  our  journey, 
were  equally  gratifying. 

At  half-past  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  on  the  sixth  of 
March,  unannounced,  we  drew  up  on  the  drive,  in  front  of  the 
quarters,  of  the  commandant  at  Fort  Hays. 

The  next  day,  Sunday,  on  the  iron  highway  of  Kansas,  we 
sped  from  the  land  of  the  Indian  and  the  buffalo — from  the 
scene  of  savage  war — to  the  security,  peace,  and  comforts  of 
civilization. 


Evans  and  his  gallant  men  had  returned  from  their  trying 
march  on  the  Main  Canadian,  and  the  Red,  to  the  comparative 
comforts  of  Bascom.  Carr  and  his  troopers,  from  their  fearful 
gallop  on  the  North  Canadian,  once  more  enjoyed  the  hospitable 
shelter  of  Lyon.  Custer,  with  the  battle-scarred  veterans  of  the 
seventh,  and  Crawford,  with  his  rugged  and  daring  volunteers> 
had  given  the  savages  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Red  the  final 
blow  of  the  campaign.  The  seventh  was  in  quarters  near  Fort 
Hays.  The  volunteers,  after  their  rough  experience  had  gone 
to  their  homes.  Such  was  the  end  of  the  campaign  before  the 
close  of  the  spring  of  1869.  The  purposes  of  war  were  fully 
realized.  The  savages  were  severely  punished.  TJie  belief 
in  their  security  in  the  winter  season  was  shattered  beyond  a 
question,  even  in  their  stubborn  minds.  All  the  tribes  south 
of  the  Platte  were  forced  upon  their  reservations.  Thus,  by 
the  powerful  and  efficient  aid  of  Sheridan's  Troopers,  the  wild 
tribes  were  made  accessible  to  the  generous  heart  of  humanity,, 
and  the  tempering  influences  of  industry,  education,  and  chria- 
\  tianity.  . 

THE  END.      ^ 


JLT:    M~SJT±  JL 
RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

RENEWALS  ONLY— TEL.  NO.  642-3405 
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MAY      9'PQ    ini. 

W-12M 

LOAM    DEPT. 

irl 

subject  to  recall  after  • 

.       SEP 

8'7I  1  8 

REC'DLD    SEP< 

8,1-6 

PM12 

3CT  12 

197U* 

AN  STACK 

5      MAY 

1672 

ppp'n  f  n    MAY 

fi  7?  ./ 

5 

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